Black History Month Read: The Personal Librarian

352 pages Berkley publisher June 29,2021 publish date

ABOUT THE BOOK

A remarkable novel about J. P. Morgan’s personal librarian, Belle da Costa Greene, the Black American woman who was forced to hide her true identity and pass as white in order to leave a lasting legacy that enriched our nation, from New York Times bestselling authors Marie Benedict and 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 in New York City society 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 create 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 she must go to—for the protection of her family and her legacy—to preserve her carefully crafted white identity in the racist world in which she lives.

Photo by Suzy Hazelwood: https://www.pexels.com

MY THOUGHTS

When I read The First Ladies by Marie Bendict it was my first read by this author though I have heard of this author before.
Based on actual people and events, The Personal Librarian opened my eyes like never before.

When Belle da Costa Greene’s, a black woman’s father left the family, she was forced to do the unthinkable, as was the entire family and “pass” as white to avoid the racial prejudice.
A woman of intense intelligence, she is hired by J.P. Morgan to curate a collection of rare manuscripts, books, and artwork for his newly built Pierpont Morgan Library.

Bold and shrewd, she is oftentimes the only woman at these book and art sales, and she also knows if a piece is authentic. The men often backdown when they see she wants a certain item.

Because she is J.P. Morgan’s personal librarian, she must not only put in many hours each day, but she must travel abroad to curate these one-of-a-kind pieces for him. Her important work has an expensive lifestyle as appearances must be kept with her bedecked in fancy ball gowns and jewelry. Her family benefits greatly from this as they have more money than they would have each brought in individually combined and they have a fancy house. I was very impressed with the intelligence of Belle as she goes about the buying of certain old manuscripts and Gutenberg bibles and as she goes about authenticating certain art pieces.

When J. P. Morgan dies, she is kept on by his son to continue as his librarian.
I had never heard of this woman before and was busy looking up more information about her.
The book was fascinating and enriching and I enjoyed learning about the lives of the characters involved.

Pub Date: 29 Jun 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

THE AUTHORS

Victoria Christopher Murray is the New York Times bestselling author of more than 30 novels. Her novels, The Personal Librarian and The First Ladies, which she co-authored with Marie Benedict were both Instant New York Times bestsellers and her novel, Stand Your Ground won an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work – Fiction. Four of her novels, Lust, Envy, Wrath and Greed have been made into TV movies for Lifetime. Visit her at http://www.victoriachristophermurray.com.

Marie Benedict is a lawyer with more than ten years’ experience as a litigator at two of the country’s premier law firms, who found her calling unearthing the hidden historical stories of women. Her mission is to excavate from the past the most important, complex and fascinating women of history and bring them into the light of present-day where we can finally perceive the breadth of their contributions as well as the insights they bring to modern day issues. She embarked on a new, thematically connected series of historical novels with THE OTHER EINSTEIN, which tells the tale of Albert Einstein’s first wife, a physicist herself, and the role she might have played in his theories. The next novel in this series is the USA Today bestselling CARNEGIE’S MAID — which released in January of 2018 — and the book that followed is the New York Times bestseller and Barnes & Noble Book Club Pick THE ONLY WOMAN IN THE ROOM, the story of the brilliant inventor Hedy Lamarr, which published in January of 2019. In January of 2020, LADY CLEMENTINE, the story of the incredible Clementine Churchill, was released, and became an international bestseller. Her next novel, the Instant NYTimes and USAToday bestselling THE MYSTERY OF MRS. CHRISTIE, was published on December 29, 2020, and her first co-written book, THE PERSONAL LIBRARIAN, with the talented Victoria Christopher Murray, will be released on June 29, 2021. Writing as Heather Terrell, Marie also published the historical novels The Chrysalis, The Map Thief, and Brigid of Kildare.

Have you read this book? What were your thoughts?

Enjoy your weekend and stay safe.