The Personal Librarian

Locations
Call Number: Fiction / Benedict, Marie, Adult Book / Fiction / Historical / Benedict, Marie
On Shelf At: Downtown Library, Malletts Creek Branch, Traverwood Branch, Westgate Branch

In her twenties, Belle da Costa Greene is hired by J. Pierpont Morgan to curate a collection of rare manuscripts, books, and artwork for his newly built 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: she was born Belle Marion Greener, daughter of Richard Greener, the first Black graduate of Harvard and well-known advocate for equality. Belle's alleged Portuguese heritage lets her pass as white, but she will go through great lengths to preserve her carefully crafted identity in a racist world. -- adapted from jacket

REVIEWS & SUMMARIES

COMMUNITY REVIEWS

Fascinating submitted by DBogie on August 9, 2021, 6:42pm Very interesting how what color or heritage matters more than who a person is.
And what hate hide our heritage from others effects all parts of our lives.

changing times submitted by johnbiancke on June 12, 2022, 11:17am Times have changed however we are still in need of more change

Interesting Book submitted by smgop on June 27, 2022, 8:55pm Marie Benedict is an excellent author - this book is as good as her other books!

Interesting history; average writing submitted by 21621031390949 on June 9, 2023, 4:29pm An interesting book about race and social relations in the U.S. in the first part of the 20th century. I enjoyed the historical info I picked up, and readers with greater knowledge of art history will enjoy that aspect of the book. It was just an average read, however. No terrible blunders, but the writing is artless and there’s not a lot of depth to the characters.