‘Rhapsody’ takes readers on a trip to a ’30s affair
Her husband supports her musical aspirations and affords her a life full of traditional, European culture and immense wealth. Her lover supports her musical aspirations and affords her a life full of new, varied culture and relative wealth. Her husband pens books of both poetry and economic analysis, contributing lyrics to her music under a pseudonym. Her lover composes some of the most exciting, ambitious music of the early 20th century, counting on her help to score his work while also promoting her original pieces with producers, publishers and choreographers. Yet pianist/composer Kay Swift feels all the painful angst of being in a love triangle, even as both of the men she desires offer exciting and fulfilling experiences and opportunities.
With his novel “Rhapsody,” former Pittsburgher Mitchell James Kaplan provides a fictional account of the real life and romantic dilemmas of the trailblazing Swift, whose 1930 Broadway musical “Fine and Dandy” was the first such show to be completely scored by a woman. At age 20 she wed banker James
Warburg. Seven years later she would meet “Rhapsody in Blue” composer George Gershwin and begin a musical and romantic relationship with him. The rarified world Swift inhabited provides the rich, raw material Kaplan uses to tell a complex and involving story.
For starters, the supporting cast of the tale could not be more early-20th-centurystar-studded. Swift’s musical acquaintances range from Duke Ellington to Maurice Ravel to Fats Waller to Rodgers and Hart. Writers like Dorothy Parker, Zora Neale Hurston and George S. Kaufman drop in to offer cultural, literary and personal commentary. Gershwin counts New York mayor Jimmy Walker amongst his inner circle; Warburg goes from working under assistant secretary of the navy Franklin D. Roosevelt to becoming a behind-the-scenes economic adviser to FDR as president. When Swift looks for a female friend she can confide in, dancer/actress Adele Astaire (yes, Fred’s sister) offers a sympathetic ear. In a biography, such luminaries could become footnotes. In Kaplan’s historical novel they turn into essential characters, often- fascinating friends and foils.
While the plot about Swift’s divided romantic allegiance drives the book, it also allows Kaplan to examine all manner of interesting social and political complexities of 1920s and ’30s America. Swift grew up a Christian, but both of her love interests were Jewish. This offers fodder for conversations about cultural vs. religious identity and familial influence over relationships as both the Warburgs and Gershwins try to steer their boys away from a shiksa.
Race is a prominent theme, also. At first, Gershwin’s integration of Black musicians’ jazz and blues forms into his compositions wins him rave notices. By the time of his show “Porgy and Bess,” accusations of cultural appropriation and condescension arise. Also fascinating are the viewpoints of history as it was being made. At least in the pages of “Rhapsody,” Swift’s husband foresees the Stock Market crash that begets the Great Depression, but underestimates Hitler as unlikely to usher in another world war or attack Jews beyond his abhorrent rhetoric.
At the heart of the story, however, is music. Notoriously difficult to write about, it needs to come to life for readers to care about Swift who often chooses to give time to her art above all else, including her children. Kaplan never dummies down —
chord progressions, compositional techniques, playing styles are all accurately and specifically described with technical flourishes. But, he also captures the magic in the music, the way Gershwin’s concepts, melodies and playing, especially, pique Swift’s curiosity and eventually move and inspire her. Other musical performances Swift attends, from frothy Broadway musicals to swinging jazz sets at the Cotton Club to operas and classical concerts, also come to life.
If “Rhapsody” has a flaw, it is that Swift gets to have her cake and eat it too, for too long. She struggles internally with whether she should stay in her frustratingbut-not-unfulfilling marriage, and if Gershwin would truly have her were she free of it. Neither man stays faithful to Swift, so neither man eyes the other with particular malevolence. Thus, she lives a life of abject luxury and few real problems with nearly unlimited time to develop her art, pursue her interests and spend time with both Jimmy and George. It’s an interesting life, thankfully, but one lacking deep, plot-driving conflict.
A little over halfway into the story, tensions finally heat up and provide more narrative thrust. Swift’s husband wants to redefine and recommit to their marriage. All three main characters enter therapy with the same doctor. Swift dives into unique new artistic opportunities. Decisions with life-altering consequences start to be made.
“Rhapsody” never proves less than engaging reading, however. Swift’s dialogue sings especially, capturing both her intellect and wit. She comes off like a wisecracking star of a 1930s film that is part screwball comedy, part tragedy. It is difficult to imagine living a more incredible first half of a life than Swift’s, and Mitchell James Kaplan’s prose luxuriates in depicting her surprising and wildly artistic world.
No matter the time of year, denim never goes out of style. In time for spring, the homegrown denim label Revtown has released three new washes for women — soft olive, claret (a soft wine shade) and “everyday indigo.”
Revtown launched in Pittsburgh in early 2018 with men’s jeans and expanded to include options for women in 2019. From its inception, the brand has been on a mission to make the most comfortable, versatile jeans in the market. They’re made from premium Italian denim with a flexible athletic yarn so they stretch as the body moves but don’t lose their shape.
This feel-good fabric has made Revtown jeans a popular pick during COVID-19 for those looking for an alternative to wearing sweats and other loungewear, a spokesperson for the brand said.
Shoppers can find their right fit at home using Revtown’s digital tailor. In five steps, the online tool recommends a size to try.
Women’s jeans come in skinny, highrise, classic straight and high-rise straight styles. Men can choose from sharp (slim), automatic (relaxed), taper (skinny), khaki jeans, lightweight and selvage. All jeans are $79 at revtownusa.com.