Victoria Christopher Murray’s Harlem Rhapsody beckons readers into the vibrant world of 1920s Harlem through the compelling story of Jessie Redmon Fauset, a pioneering literary figure whose contributions to the Harlem Renaissance have been largely overshadowed in popular historical accounts. Murray, known for her collaborative work on the New York Times bestseller The Personal Librarian with Marie Benedict, deftly blends historical fact with fiction to illuminate Fauset’s extraordinary life as both the literary midwife of a movement and a woman navigating complex personal and professional desires.
The novel opens in 1919, as Jessie arrives in Harlem to take up her position as literary editor of The Crisis, the influential magazine of the NAACP. From this moment, Murray weaves a captivating narrative that spans six years of Jessie’s life, chronicling her rise as an editor, her discovery and mentorship of luminaries like Langston Hughes and Countee Cullen, and her complicated romantic entanglement with her married boss, W.E.B. Du Bois.
Masterful Character Development in a Rich Historical Setting
Murray’s greatest achievement in Harlem Rhapsody is her nuanced portrayal of Jessie Fauset. Rather than presenting a one-dimensional historical figure, she creates a fully realized woman whose ambitions, passions, and contradictions feel authentic and relatable. Jessie emerges as a complex character: fiercely intelligent, professionally driven, and romantically conflicted—a woman ahead of her time yet still bound by its social constraints.
The author skillfully demonstrates Jessie’s internal struggles, particularly through her relationship with Du Bois (affectionately called “Will”). Their affair unfolds with psychological depth, revealing Jessie’s awareness of both the impropriety and the power imbalance of their connection. When she tells herself, “I cannot have a single reflection about The Crisis without thinking about love,” we witness the entanglement of her professional and personal lives that she must ultimately untangle to claim her independence.
The supporting characters are equally well-drawn. Murray’s portrayal of W.E.B. Du Bois is particularly nuanced—showing his brilliance and vision alongside his arrogance and personal failings. Similarly, Jessie’s mother (Maman), her sister Mary-Helen, and the young writers she mentors—especially Langston Hughes—are rendered with distinctive voices and motivations that enrich the narrative.
Historical Authenticity That Educates and Enlightens
Murray’s research shines throughout the novel, immersing readers in the sights, sounds, and social dynamics of the Harlem Renaissance. She recreates pivotal cultural moments with historical accuracy:
- The premiere of Eugene O’Neill’s The Emperor Jones with Paul Robeson
- The Opportunity literary awards dinner that helped launch many writers’ careers
- The founding of Harry Pace’s Black Swan Records
- The publication of Jean Toomer’s Cane and Jessie’s own novel There Is Confusion
These events are seamlessly integrated into the narrative, educating readers about this vital cultural movement without ever feeling didactic. Murray also addresses the racial dynamics of the era, including the restrictions Black writers faced from white publishers and the divergent perspectives within the Black community about how to advance racial equality.
A Passionate Tale of Forbidden Love
The romantic relationship between Jessie and Will forms the emotional core of the novel. Murray handles their affair with sensitivity and complexity, acknowledging both its passionate intensity and its problematic nature. Their relationship isn’t simply romanticized—it’s portrayed as a genuine connection filled with intellectual stimulation and mutual admiration, yet also fraught with ethical compromises and power dynamics.
What makes this portrayal particularly effective is how Murray connects Jessie’s personal relationship with Will to her professional ambitions. Jessie’s growing desire to become editor of The Crisis increasingly conflicts with her role as Will’s lover, creating tension that propels the narrative forward. When she finally realizes that “The Crisis is his dream, his baby; you birthed it, and you’re not giving it up. There’s no room for me here,” her moment of clarity leads to her decision to leave both the magazine and the relationship.
Elegant Prose That Captures a Literary Era
Murray’s writing style is perfectly suited to her subject matter. Her prose is elegant and literary without being pretentious—appropriate for a novel about literary figures. She incorporates French phrases in Jessie’s dialogue, reflecting the character’s multilingual education, and creates convincing period dialogue that grounds readers in the 1920s.
Consider this passage where Jessie reflects on her novel’s title: “I think about all the years and all the love we have shared. I recall our tears of laughter and the ones that ensued from pain. Suddenly, there it is. A title. One that exquisitely describes this relationship between W.E.B. Du Bois and Jessie Redmon Fauset.”
Such moments showcase Murray’s ability to blend biographical facts—Fauset’s actual novel was indeed titled There Is Confusion—with imagined interior monologues that feel true to the historical figure.
Minor Shortcomings in an Otherwise Excellent Novel
Despite its many strengths, Harlem Rhapsody occasionally suffers from pacing issues. The middle portion of the novel contains several scenes that, while individually compelling, create a somewhat episodic feeling that temporarily diminishes narrative momentum. Additionally, some secondary characters, particularly Nina Du Bois (Will’s wife), could have been developed more fully earlier in the story, though her final confrontation with Jessie is one of the novel’s most powerful scenes.
The novel’s treatment of the competition between The Crisis and Opportunity magazines occasionally feels oversimplified, with Charles Johnson’s actions portrayed somewhat reductively compared to the nuanced treatment given to other historical figures. This subplot, while important to the historical context, sometimes diverts attention from the more engaging personal and professional journey of Jessie.
A Significant Addition to Historical Fiction
By centering her novel on Jessie Fauset rather than more famous figures like Langston Hughes or W.E.B. Du Bois, Murray has made an important contribution to historical fiction. She illuminates the critical role that women—particularly Black women—played in shaping American literary culture, challenging the male-dominated narratives that have often defined our understanding of the Harlem Renaissance.
Harlem Rhapsody shares thematic and stylistic elements with other notable works of historical fiction about overlooked women in the arts, including:
- The Personal Librarian (Murray’s previous collaboration with Marie Benedict)
- Tayari Jones’s An American Marriage
- Martha Hall Kelly’s Lilac Girls
- Dolen Perkins-Valdez’s Take My Hand
Each of these novels combines meticulous historical research with compelling characterization to shed light on previously marginalized stories.
Final Verdict: A Moving Portrait of Artistic Ambition and Personal Courage
Harlem Rhapsody is at once a love story, a portrait of an artistic movement, and a meditation on a woman’s quest for professional fulfillment in a world reluctant to grant it. Murray has crafted a novel that is both entertaining and illuminating, bringing to vivid life a crucial period in American cultural history through the eyes of a remarkable woman.
What lingers after the final page is Jessie’s evolution from a woman seeking approval and recognition from others to one who claims her own path forward. As she writes to Mr. Spingarn in her final letter: “I understand the challenges your company may face with a hire such as mine, especially in the position of editor. Although I am certainly qualified, competent, and would welcome such an offer, I would also consider a more modest entry position…” This unflinching determination to pursue her dreams, regardless of obstacles, makes Jessie a protagonist worth rooting for and remembering long after the book is closed.
For readers interested in the Harlem Renaissance, women’s history, or simply a richly detailed historical novel centered on a passionate and driven heroine, Harlem Rhapsody offers a deeply satisfying reading experience that educates as much as it entertains.
Victoria Christopher Murray has crafted a compelling historical novel that brings overdue attention to a brilliant woman whose contributions helped shape American literature while navigating the complexities of love, ambition, and identity in a transformative cultural moment.
