Harlem Rhapsody

Description

The extraordinary story of Jessie Redmon Fauset whose exhilarating world of friends, rivals, and passions all combined to create the magic that was the Harlem Renaissance, written by Victoria Christopher Murray, New York Times bestselling coauthor of The Personal Librarian.
 
In 1919, as civil and social unrest grips the country, there is a little corner of America, a place called Harlem where something special is stirring. Here, the New Negro is rising and Black pride is evident everywhere…in music, theatre, fashion and the arts. And there on stage in the center of this renaissance is Jessie Redmon Fauset, the new literary editor of the preeminent Negro magazine The Crisis.
 
W.E.B. Du Bois, the founder and editor of The Crisis, has charged her with discovering young writers whose words will change the world. Jessie attacks the challenge with fervor, quickly finding sixteen-year-old Countee Cullen, seventeen-year-old Langston Hughes, and Nella Larsen, who becomes one of her best friends. Under Jessie’s leadership, The Crisis thrives, the writers become notable and magazine subscriptions soar. Every Negro writer in the country wants their work published in the magazine now known for its groundbreaking poetry and short stories. 
 
Jessie’s rising star is shining bright….but her relationship with W.E.B. could jeopardize all that she’s built. The man, considered by most to be the leader of Black America, is not only Jessie’s boss, he’s her lover. And neither his wife, nor their fourteen-year-age difference can keep the two apart. Their torrid and tumultuous affair is complicated by a secret desire that Jessie harbors — to someday, herself, become the editor of the magazine, a position that only W.E.B. Du Bois has held.
 
In the face of overwhelming sexism and racism, Jessie must balance her drive with her desires. However, as she strives to preserve her legacy, she’ll discover the high cost of her unparalleled success.“Historical fiction at its best!”—Good Morning America, on The Personal Librarian

Praise for the coauthored novels of Victoria Christopher Murray

“The book’s narrative is seamless…. I became hooked.”
—NPR

“Benedict and Murray bring their knack for historical fiction to a story of the women’s unlikely alliance and the ways their bond and efforts forged the beginnings of the modern civil rights movement.”
—Entertainment Weekly

“A compelling and important story.”
—Therese Anne Fowler, New York Times bestselling author of A Good Neighborhood

“This book will expand your perspective and keep you reading late into the night.”
—Dolen Perkins-Valdez, New York Times bestselling author of Take My Hand

“An utter joy…. The First Ladies is a wonder!”
—Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Diamond Eye

“A timely story…of when two strong minds come together in the name of justice and equality.”
—Sadeqa Johnson, New York Times bestselling author of The House of Eve

“A powerful and unforgettable story of female strength and the triumph of the human spirit.”
—Pam Jenoff, New York Times bestselling author of The Woman with the Blue Star

“A novel abundant with culture, art, literature, and romance—the beauty and recklessness of love are revealed with astonishing clarity.”
—Patti Callahan Henry, New York Times bestselling author of The Secret Book of Flora Lea

“A marvel of a story.”
—Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author of The Lions of Fifth Avenue

“A fascinating story!”
—Real Simple

“Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray herald the beauty and passion of a celebrated friendship across color lines and the complications of history.”
—Vanessa Riley, award-winning author of Queen of ExilesVictoria Christopher Murray is the New York Times bestselling coauthor of The First Ladies and The Personal Librarian.US

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