The Personal Librarian - Softcover

Benedict, Marie; Murray, Victoria Christopher

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0593437039 ISBN 13: 9780593437032

Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group, 2021

Synopsis

The little-known story of J. P. Morgan's personal librarian, who became one of the most powerful women in New York despite a dangerous secret.

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.

About this title

About the Author

Marie Benedict is a lawyer with more than ten years' experience as a litigator. A graduate of Boston College and the Boston University School of Law, she is the New York Times and USAToday bestselling author of titles including The Mystery of Mrs. Christie (Sourcebooks Landmark, 2020). All have been translated into multiple languages. She lives in Pittsburgh with her family.

Victoria Christopher Murray is one of the country's top African American contemporary authors with more than one million books in print. She has written more than twenty novels, including the Seven Deadly Sins series and Stand Your Ground (2015; all Gallery Books), a Library Journal Best Book of the Year. She holds an MBA from the NYU Stern School of Business.

From the Back Cover

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.

Edition details

• Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
• Publication date: 2021
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0593437039
• ISBN 13: 9780593437032
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 352