Name: The Personal Librarian HARDCOVER – 2021 by Marie Benedict
Brand: Berkley
SKU: 2L7OTYUHJI47
Availability: OutOfStock
Rating: 4.8 (4 reviews)

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The Personal Librarian HARDCOVER – 2021 by Marie Benedict

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The remarkable story of 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 to leave a lasting legacy that enriched our nation, 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 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.Product details<ul class="a-unordered-list a-nostyle a-vertical a-spacing-none detail-bullet-list"><li>Publisher ‏ : ‎ Berkley</li><li>Language ‏ : ‎ English</li><li>Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 352 pages</li><li>ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0593101537</li><li>ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0593101537</li><li>Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.2 pounds</li><li>Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.2 x 1.19 x 9.27 inches</li></ul>

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The Personal Librarian is a very acclaimed book on the Best Seller list.  The best price is at Walmart (as usual).  It is a great story, well written, and very popular in my neighborhood.  A must read.

The Personal Librarian

walmart.com

** My plan is to turn the Pierpont Morgan Library from a private library into a public institution so that thousands and thousands of people will see the beauty and significance of the early written word  the importance of reading and books as a great equalizer among humankind. **

Authors Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray join forces to bring us The Personal Librarian, the story of J.P. Morgans personal librarian, Belle de Costa Greene, and the secret life she was forced to live.

A black woman who is able to pass as white, Belle quickly gained the respect of both Morgan and the art and literary world as she successfully built the collection of Morgans library into something the world envied. But even as she gained more and more success, wealth and popularity, she lived in fear the world would discover her secret  that she was actually a colored woman  and quickly snatch the rug out from under her.

The Personal Librarian is an intriguing and inspiring read, giving us a glimpse into the life of a woman who became the most influential person in her field despite her race and gender, as well as allowing us to travel into the world of J.P. Morgan and other affluential people of the time.

Featuring many historical characters and events, Benedict and Murray offer a fictionalized telling of the events that led to the eventual public institutionalizing of the Pierpont Morgan Library in New York City and its female librarian. 

Besides telling the story of Belle and Morgans library, The Personal Librarian also reminds us that books are valuable  they are an intimate conversation with the past and a great equalizer among people. It also reminds us of the importance of legacy.

This book does contain some adult situations surrounding Belles affair with art expert Bernard Berenson and results from that affair, as well as dealing with racial inequality, so I would not recommend it for young readers. Fans of historical fiction, womens and racial history, and fictionalized stories of historical figures will enjoy this book.

Four stars out of five. 

Berkley Publishing Group provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.

Intriguing Story