The remarkable, little-known story of Belle da Costa Greene, J. P. Morgan's personal librarian--who became one of the most powerful women in New York despite the dangerous secret she kept in order to make her dreams come true, from New York Times bestselling author Marie Benedict and acclaimed author Victoria Christopher Murray.
In her twenties, Belle da Costa Greene is hired by J. P. Morgan to curate a collection of rare manuscripts, books, and artwork for his newly built Pierpont Morgan Library. Belle becomes a fixture on the New York society scene and one of the most powerful people in the art and book world, known for her impeccable taste and shrewd negotiating for critical works as she helps build a world-class collection.
But Belle has a secret, one she must protect at all costs. She was born not Belle da Costa Greene but Belle Marion Greener. She is the daughter of Richard Greener, the first Black graduate of Harvard and a well-known advocate for equality. Belle's complexion isn't dark because of her alleged Portuguese heritage that lets her pass as white--her complexion is dark because she is African American.
The Personal Librarian tells the story of an extraordinary woman, famous for her intellect, style, and wit, and shares the lengths to which she must go--for the protection of her family and her legacy--to preserve her carefully crafted white identity in the racist world in which she lives
REVIEW: This was the historical fiction pick for the July Inked Pages Book Club. One of the things I love about Benedict is her ability to bring these strong historical women to the forefront when their stories haven't been told and when the addition of Murray we get an incredible story of an African American woman who was a trailblazer for not just women of color but all women in a time when women were expected to keep house and be mothers. Belle has incredible strength and tenacity and for her it really pays off. It's sad to think that if her skin would have been darker or if she had chosen to live as her true self that her brilliant mind wouldn't have made the Pierpont Library what it has grown into today. All the things she went through in her life, alone in a sense, because she had to hide so many different sides of herself away. I'm so glad that her story is finally being told and brought to the masses so her legacy and trailblazing can live on for years to come. This was an absolutely incredible 5 star read and one I highly recommend.
Publication Date: June 29th, 2021
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