Rough Amusements: The Story of A'Lelia Walker, Patroness of the Harlem Renaissance's Down-Low Culture

by Ben Neihart

Book Overview

From acclaimed novelist Ben Neihart, a vibrant portrait of gay Harlem's most memorable diva: A'Lelia Walker. When A'Lelia Walker died in 1931 after a midnight snack of lobster and chocolate cake... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1582342857
• ISBN13: 9781582342856
• Release Date: April 2003
• Publisher: Bloomsbury USA
• Length: 160 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.5" x 7.3"

Customer Reviews

Deeply wicked and sympathetic trifle.

...this book does not stick to the story of A'Lelia Walker. It veers wildly into the stories of a castrated transvestite, Jenny June, the poets Langston Hughes and Richard Bruce Nugent, assorted white gangsters. But A'Lelia's presence dominates the book, and it is a fast, celebratory account of one imagined night during the Harlem Renaissance's waning days. For a definitive account of A'Lelia Walker, you must wait for A'Lelia Bundles' bio-in-progress, and can also read her biography of A'Lelia's mother, Madame C.J. Walker.

Rough Amusements is better than ever!

Just finished reading this great great book of which I truly wished the author had taken it further and delved into waters unknown by including along with the story the true behind the scenes machinations of the book and all that went with it. This book is excellent and beautifully produced as well. A must must have for all librarys and a huge clue to black history. (I never rage about a book, but this one was GOOD!)

DIVA of the Harlem Renaissance!

It is not very often that you discover a fascinating and exciting book by accident, totally unaware it even existed, and it enters your life like a cool breeze after a hot and humid summer day. You're thrilled, you're excited, and you find you can't tear yourself away from it until you're finished. This is the situation I found myself in right from page 1. Novelist Neihart has given us an entertaining story based on real events and people, but has taken liberty with some of the scenes and action in recreating these historical events for us. It's the real life story of A'Lelia Walker, the daughter of Madame C.J. Walker who became a multimillionaire by selling personal-care products to African American women. The story is based on the life of A'Lelia, how she used her inheritance after her mother died, and the flamboyant characters she surrounded herself with. She threw elaborate, celebrity-filled parties in her Westchester mansion and 136th Street apartment. The story centers on the 1930 lavish drag ball, where female impersonators and the underground gay culture existed in all its splendor and sexuality. We are introduced to such figures as; Langston Hughes, the poetic genius, Nancy Cunard, the shipping heiress, Richard Nugent, Harold Jackman, and the most tragic figure of the drag ball, sexual addict Jennie June. There is more revealed about this fascinating character than any other in this story, including A'Lelia's. That Jennie June is a major part of the story is fitting as she is the most compelling and interesting of all the people portrayed.Neihart has created a magnificent view of the Harlem Renaissance and written it in a way that is entertaining, light, and easy to read. It was a rough & sometimes tragic time to being living, but as this story shows it was also an exciting time of parties, fun, and lavish entertainment. Never dull, never boring, it's a piece of history that will enlighten and educate you. Joe Hanssen