Jazz in the Time of the Novel: The Temporal Politics of American Race and Culture

265 Pages·2013·1.282 MB·English

by  Bruce Evan Barnhart

J A Z Z
in the Time of the Novel

J A Z Z
in the Time
of the Novel
The Temporal Politics of
Americ an Race and Culture
BRuCe BARNhART
The uNiveRsiTy of AlABAmA PRess
Tuscaloosa
Copyright © 2013
The university of Alabama Press
Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35487- 0380
All rights reserved
manufactured in the united states of America
Typeface: Garamond and Gill sans
Cover image: Copyright © Benjamin haas, Dreamstime.com
Cover design: erin Bradlry Dangar / Dangar Design
∞
The paper on which this book is printed meets the minimum requirements
of Americ an National standard for information sciences—Permanence of
Paper for Printed library materials, ANsi Z39.48- 1984.
library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Barnhart, Bruce, 1966-
Jazz in the time of the novel : the temporal politics of American race and
culture / Bruce Barnhart.
pages cm
includes bibliographical references and index.
isBN 978-0-8173-1804-8 (trade cloth : alk. paper) —
isBN 978-0-8173-8690-0 (e book)
1. American fiction—history and criticism. 2. Jazz in literature. 3. music in
literature. 4. Rhythm in literature. 5. Time in literature. i. Title.
Ps374.J38B37 2013
813'.509357—dc23
2013009278
for linda D. Nichols and lindon W. Barrett

Contents
list of illustrations   ix
Acknowledgments   xi
1. Jazz and the Novel in the Cultural and imaginative landscape   1
2. music, Race, and sublimation: Ragtime and symphonic Time in
The Autobiography of an Ex- Colored Man   41
3. “Carolina shout” and the Rhythms of Rent- Party Performance   82
4. forms of Repetition and Jazz sociality in The Great Gatsby   97
5. vibratory Time: smith and Armstrong’s “st. louis Blues”   133
6. Rhythmicizing the Novel: Temporal Taxonomies from larsen to
hemingway, stein to hughes   152
Discography   211
Notes   213
Works Cited   235
index   247

Illustrations
1. The pianist eubie Blake and his car   112
2. fitzgerald at his writing desk   140
3. fitzgerald and Armstrong created competing versions of
Ameri can temporality   141
4. Duke ellington at the piano   184
5. Nella larsen   185