Harlem [Hardcover]

Len Riley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 14, 1997

Set at the height of the Harlem Renaissance, when Harlem was the hot spot of the world, the Lamberts, a black American sharecropping family from outside Jacksonville, Florida head north, enticed by the letters of their cousin Geneva. "In Harlem," she writes, "colored folks and white people are all treated the same. We all drive around in fancy cars and wear the latest clothes...Everyone is rich..." Unbeknownst to the Lamberts, Geneva has transformed herself from rural preacher's daughter to wealthy offspring of New Orleans black elite. Light-skinned and beautiful, she has the looks, the poise and bravado to carry the deception off-and now her ambition is about to be rewarded. Lester Noble has proposed, and Geneva is about to marry into the Harlem aristocracy. Nothing can stop her now. Or so she thinks....But when the Lamberts arrive on Geneva's doorstep, it seems that her carefully orchestrated plan may go awry. Faced with a choice between her hardscrabble past and her happy future, Geneva coldly leaves her kinfolk to make their own way in a city that is as overwhelming as it is vibrant. This unforgettable novel paints a vivid portrait of Harlem in its heyday-jazz bands, bootleggers, the beautiful showgirls of the Cotton Club and the broken men and women who struggle to survive in New York's most desperate neighborhoods. A blend of fictional characters and real-life figures in the Harlem Renaissance, it's an irresistible tale of passion and envy, loyalty and betrayal, ruthless violence and redeeming love-a book that captures all of the glory, triumph and tragedy of a unique time and place in America's history.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

A re-creation of the Harlem Renaissance, Riley's novel paints a vivid portrait of that famous neighborhood in its heyday, when jazz bands, bootleggers, and the Cotton Club thrived.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From the Publisher

Set at the height of the Harlem Renaissance, when Harlem was the hot spot of the world, the Lamberts, a black American sharecropping family from outside Jacksonville, Florida head north, enticed by the letters of their cousin Geneva. "In Harlem," she writes, "colored folks and white people are all treated the same. We all drive around in fancy cars and wear the latest clothes...Everyone is rich..." Unbeknownst to the Lamberts, Geneva has transformed herself from rural preacher's daughter to wealthy offspring of New Orleans black elite. Light-skinned and beautiful, she has the looks, the poise and bravado to carry the deception off-and now her ambition is about to be rewarded. Lester Noble has proposed, and Geneva is about to marry into the Harlem aristocracy. Nothing can stop her now. Or so she thinks....But when the Lamberts arrive on Geneva's doorstep, it seems that her carefully orchestrated plan may go awry. Faced with a choice between her hardscrabble past and her happy future, Geneva coldly leaves her kinfolk to make their own way in a city that is as overwhelming as it is vibrant. This unforgettable novel paints a vivid portrait of Harlem in its heyday-jazz bands, bootleggers, the beautiful showgirls of the Cotton Club and the broken men and women who struggle to survive in New York's most desperate neighborhoods. A blend of fictional characters and real-life figures in the Harlem Renaissance, it's an irresistible tale of passion and envy, loyalty and betrayal, ruthless violence and redeeming love-a book that captures all of the glory, triumph and tragedy of a unique time and place in America's history.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Doubleday; 1st edition (April 14, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385485085
• ISBN-13: 978-0385485081
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,705,728 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How Could You Not Like This Book?, March 7, 1999

By 

Zane "NY Times Bestselling Author" (Maryland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Harlem (Hardcover)

Personally, I am confused about some of the previous reviews from people who couldn't appreciate Mr. Riley's talent. I loved the book! I read an average of 3-4 books a week and Harlem is hands down one of the best books I have ever had the pleasure of reading. His character development was excellent, his descriptions of Harlem were outstanding and the storyline was superb. This book was in a word, the BOMB!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent!!!!!!!, January 12, 2006

By 

Nana - See all my reviews

This review is from: Harlem (Paperback)

Mr. Riley spent many years writing this book and it shows!!!
I could not put it down. I hope that many will enjoy it as I have. Get it!! Read it!!! Mr. Riley passed away 7 years ago right after the book was published. He was very happy with his work. It was his dream. We loved him very much.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Just didn't get going for me., April 7, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Harlem (Hardcover)

I must admit I had mixed emotions about reading this book after reading a few of the customer reviews. After having finished it, I still have mixed emotions. I couldn't get into it. Too many plots were brought up and left incomplete or under developed. Overall, the story line reminded me of that loose thread that you can't seem to cut right. The more you pull on it, the more you unravel until eventually you just wished you never tried to trim (read it) in the first place.

At best this was the typical country bumpkins go to the big city story. They fall on hard times, etc., etc. Once you've read one like it, you've read them all. Nothing new about this one I'm sorry to report.