There Is Confusion - Jessie Redmon Fauset

There Is Confusion, by Jessie Redmon Fauset, is a 1924 novel following the lives of three Black children from early 20th century Harlem, through WWI: ambitious Joanna, who wants to achieve "greatness" through the performing arts; Peter, an aspiring doctor who wants to marry Joanna; and Maggie, who just wants to escape her impoverished origins. Unlike the other 1920s books I've read recently, I frequently found myself forgetting that it actually was from the 1920s, rather than more recent historical fiction, although in other ways, it obviously was from another era. Very interesting as a reflection of a specific time, place, and perspective (e.g., the Black middle class of early 20th century New York and Philadelphia), and equally worth reading "just" for the story— based on my sample size of one, I'm surprised I haven't heard Fauset's name in the same breath as Jane Austen's and Edith Wharton's.