This historical fiction title is the incredible story of Belle da Costa Greene, personal librarian to legendary tycoon J.P. Morgan. At a young age, she was hired by Mr. Morgan to manage his private library and acquire books and manuscripts to add to his already impressive collection. The incredible and essential fact was that Ms. Greene was Black, but was living life as a white woman with her mother and siblings. She did everything in her power to keep this secret, since it would have been impossible for her to maintain her job, status, and lifestyle as a Black woman.

I was immediately drawn in to this book. I was transported to the life and times of Belle, and I could not put it down. Would someone ever discover her secret? Would she revert to the more traditional life of a woman in the early 20th Century, giving up her career and lifestyle for marriage and a family? These questions propelled me through most of the book, but towards the end, I became slightly disenchanted.

Clearly, we now know her true identity. But the book doesn't reference how the information became publicly known. Perhaps it was after the timeline of the book, but I would have liked to read about it nonetheless. I also felt that the Civil Rights narrative (though very important and relevant) was a little heavy-handed. It needed to be included as it was an essential part of the story and the lives of the people in it, but at times, I felt as though I was reading something from a middle school history book.

The authors' research notes at the end were fascinating, and I would love to visit the Morgan Library in NY! Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the authors for an advance reader's e-book copy.

The Personal Librarian is more than just about the life of J.P. Morgan's personal librarian, Belle da Costa Greene. It's a story of racism in early 1900's America and the decision of one African American young woman to pass for white as she enters the world of the elite, privileged class of financier J.P. Morgan. Belle practices the art of misdirection when her heritage is questioned. "It is another tactic I've developed over the years, distracting my audience by dazzling them -- whether through an outlandish remark, an outrageous dress or a good tale." I especially enjoyed the Historical Note and Benedict and Murray's individual author's notes. They each talked about what they admired and gleaned from their writing partnership during a pandemic, as well as the impact the death of George Floyd had on them, and the world, in the fight to end systematic racism. A very timely novel.

This book is a perfect example of why I love historical fiction. It is so eloquently written, I am eager to research and learn more about the people who the story is based. I had heard of JP Morgan, but only knew of it as a financial institution of some sort. I did not know anything at all of the man himself, let alone anything of Bella da Costa Greene. She was such an inspirational woman, and so determined to make her mark in the world while being employed in what many would perceive to be such an unassuming position. I would definitely recommend this to book clubs of any kind, as the conversations comparing the fiction to reality would be very interesting. I had not heard of Victoria Christopher Murray, but will be looking for her other works in literature as well.

One word . . . Amazing. I appreciate NetGalley giving me the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of The Personal Librarian. Belle da Costa Greene, a light-skinned black woman who was working as a librarian at Princeton University. She was sharp and witty. Her father was the first black man to graduate from Harvard. When her parents divorced, her mother moved the family to New York and they were able to "pass" as being white. She gets the opportunity to interview for the job of Librarian in JP Morgan's personal library and convinces him that they have similar views on what the library should become and is hired. Her story and how she manages to add so many great works of art and literature to the Morgan Library were fascinating.

The Personal Librarian is a fascinating fictional exploration of the life of J.P. Morgan's assistant and confidant, Belle LaCoste Greene. From her early roots in a strong Black family and community in Washington D.C. to relenting to her mother's pressure to pass herself off as white in New York art circles, we follow Belle's rise to one of the most sought after art curators of her time. Keeping her "black blood" hidden is both a challenge and a heart ache as she may no longer make connections with her southern roots. A slight name change, the addition of a "Portuguese" grandmother to explain her slightly darker complexion and an introduction to the famous J.P. Morgan set her on the road to fulfilling her life's passion. Achieving her goals comes with a heavy personal price however and it is only Belle who can decide if she's willing to make those sacrifices to keep living her dream.
Obviously well researched, "The Personal Librarian" is a read not to be missed.

This book was received as an ARC from Berkley Publishing Group in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

I had a real deep connection with this book being a librarian myself and also for the strength and intelligence Belle had throughout the book. I have read so many historical fiction novels that really have tugged on my heart strings but The Personal Librarian dug deeper to the point to focus on the factors that we tend to take for granted and that we often forget are a crucial part of our jobs as librarians and that is passion. It was admirable the approach Belle took to remain intelligent for the Pierpoint Memorial Library while keeping her social status in the spotlight but still staying true to her heart. This book could not have come out at a better time and it just signifies why I worked so hard for my MLS and why I love what I do.

We will consider adding this title to our Historical Fiction collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.

I enjoyed reading The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray. It is interesting to read how the collection of J.P Morgan’s personal library evolved under Belle Da Costa Greene’s management. I realize this is a fiction book but my concern is the characters are real people and many of the stories told about them are the author’s interpretation of events that may have happened. I would have liked to read more about more about the acquisitions for the library and less about affairs of da Costa Greene.

This historical fiction novel tells the story of Belle da Costa Greene, a black woman passing as a white woman who worked as the personal librarian to J.P. Morgan. Sadly, this novel didn't work for me. I felt it lacked the urgency and push I normally feel and love about Benedict's writing. While I think both authors offer amazing work, I didn't like the combination. The story seemed slow, and I had trouble caring about the characters. The story elements (a black woman passing as a white woman, a career woman in a time where women were fighting for their rights, libraries, historical figures) ticked a lot of boxes for me, but I just never felt truly invested in the book.

Belle, a black girl passing as white, is hired by J. P. Morgan as his personal librarian. Determined to be the best, Belle makes bold acquisitions, rubs shoulders with the rich and powerful, and refuses to take no for an answer. The entire time, she worries about her family, passing, and the rising violence against blacks.

Based on a true story, Belle was a fascinating character. Her bold decisions, flirty nature, and desire to be the best in a time where both blacks and women were suppressed was extremely admirable. The book was well paced, and highly entertaining. Overall 4 out of 5 stars.

Belle de Costa Greene was the personal librarian to J. P. Morgan and the driving force behind the Pierpont Morgan Library (now known as the Morgan Library & Museum). In her role as librarian and collection developer, Belle rubbed elbows with the rich and famous, was well known within international art circles, and was one of the world's most well known librarians. She was intelligent, witty, fashionable, all of which was well known at the time.

What wasn't known was that Belle was black. This book takes a deep dive into the difficulties and dangers posed by passing as white in the 1910s and 1920s, the anxiety of potential discovery, the damage such discovery would have done to her career and ability to provide for her family, as well as giving us a glimpse into this extraordinary life.

This book was absolutely fascinating! In the course of reading it, I have already recommended it to five different people directly. The collaborative writing between Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray was excellent. The book is well researched, the dialogue is historically appropriate, and any deviations from fact are noted by the authors in the author's notes at the end of the book.

I was given an advance reader's copy of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book is interesting in that it is not about a really famous person, but someone who operated behind the scenes, but yet traveled in the stratified air of the very rich and powerful. Most of the books readers have probably never heard of her, which is a shame as she did have access to so many famous people of the time. This is actually a biography of two people--Belle Greene and Marion Greener and how the lives of the two absolutely could not meet for either of them to be a success. It is a story of a black woman coming to terms with her ethnicity, a sophisticated educated woman dealing in the highest heights of the art world, and also the story of a great institution in America that she was instrumental in creating..

I cannot find enough words to describe this amazing book! It is beautifully written, and I learned so much. I thought the novel would be an interesting one anyway, but THEN I found out that Belle da Costa Greene was a woman of color passing as a white woman. I highly recommend this title, and am so excited about being able to recommend it to our library patrons!

While I haven't finished this book, I am looking forward to using it as a book discussion book. Benedict has brought to life a woman who like many women might have been lost to history after having lived in the shadow of famous men. In this case, the famous men are J. P. Morgan and Bernard Berenson. The woman, Belle da Costa Greene, was born Belle Marian Greener, the daughter of a "colored" couple in Washington DC. Despite the views of her father, Marian's mother reinvents their family as white when they move to New York City. Thus, posing as someone of Portuguese descent, Marian becomes Belle and uses her education and training to become the personal librarian of Morgan. This is a book that sends the reader off to do more research into the times and the people the further into the book one goes. It is rich with subjects to discuss.

Once I finished reading this book I thought, “This would make a really good book club choice.” First, it’s about rare books and a woman’s quest to build one of the most prestigious libraries in the world. Based on the true story of Belle da Costa Greene and her essential role in building the Pierpont Morgan Library (now called the Morgan Library), this book sent me hunting through the Internet for photos of Belle, the library, and some of the rare books she acquired. If you are a bibliophile, this is a book for you.
Beyond the bookish story, you also have the story of one of the most influential and powerful women of her time – and remember this was largely before women won the right to vote. Because of her expertise and skill in negotiating, the powerful J.P. Morgan gave her wide leeway and developing and acquiring the collection, sending her with almost unlimited amounts of money to gather manuscripts that would provide a thorough and deep collection for scholars the world over.
Add to all this, the fact that Belle had a family secret that could have upended all of her work and left her in ruins. It had to do with her race, and the dangerous line she was trying to travel in the early 1900s.
When I first picked up the book, Belle struck me as a very prim and proper narrator, and I thought it might be hard to get into the story, but once I learned more about her, I found it more and more engaging, and I understood how hard she strove for outward propriety. This book opens the way to so many things to explore and so many issues to discuss and so much more to learn that I think it could truly expand a readers world.
I received an advanced readers copy through net galley in exchange for an honest review.

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. Her intelligence and shrewd negotiating skills help her to become a powerful player in the male dominated art and book world. Belle has a secret that she works hard every day to hide from the world, she is African-American. I was intrigued to read about this incredible woman who overcame her constant fear of her true self being exposed to create and establish a remarkable, lasting legacy for generations to come. Although her sacrifices brought security for her family, the burden weighed heavily on her shoulders and yet she persevered at her position for over forty years. I'm looking forward to adding a visit to the Morgan Library on my next New York City adventure after reading this book. Thank you Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray for bringing this courageous and inspiring woman's story to the world!

If you're a fan of Marie Benedict, historical fiction or reading about the fascinating story of Belle da Costa Greene, JP Morgan's personal librarian, then I highly recommend this book! Not only did I find Belle's story intriguing but I was fascinated by Benedict's dive into the art world of the early 1900's. I also appreciated Benedict seeking out the perspective of female black author Victoria Christopher Murray and co-writing the book with her. The authors had little personal information to go on since Belle burned all of her letters and correspondence right before she died. They did a fantastic job of filling in the gaps and bringing to life this extraordinary woman of our history.

This is a story that needed to be told, especially at this time with so much bigotry showing its ugly face. The Personal Librarian is a multi-faceted look at a unique story in an important time in American history. There are multiple stories being told: the story of the Pierpont Morgan Library; the story of a woman who was a key player in the male only art and antiquarian book world; the story of a "colored" woman living as white in the upper echelons of New York and European society. Together they make a fascinating book. Each thread is well written and constructed. They are all woven together to form a cohesive and engaging narrative. I gained a good introductory insight into the rare books world through the reading. Ms. Greene's thought processes around the secret of her racial background, as she went through her days gave an interesting and educational insight into how it was to live at that time in history. Most interesting were those during her times with the New York ultra-rich. I sorry that this incredible story could not be told at the time it was playing out. I a grateful it is finally being shared in its full.

The Personal Librarian tells the story of JP Morgan's personal librarian.

Belle Marion Greener, born from black parents, received an education and was smart. Because one of her patrons enjoyed talking to her, Belle was able to get an interview with his uncle, Mr. Morgan, to oversee his library. She was well-versed in "old" books and the nephew believed they would hit it off, so to speak. Had he known she was "colored," he might not have gotten to know her much less arranged for the interview. Belle's mother believed they should take advantage of their light skin color and "pass" as white to have more opportunities. This choice had many dangers. If the truth comes out, they could, literally, be forced to move and possibly have violence against them. Belle changes her name to Belle de Costa Green. By using a name connected to Italy, the slightly darker color would allow them to be "white."

J. P. Morgan finds Belle to be an outstanding employee and even finds himself attracted to her. Belle swears to purchase the one book that he most wants even if it takes years. She and he have the goal and having one of the finest collections in the world. She is able to live in the world of society as well as the business world and be respected as a woman in a time in the early 1900s, a most unusual circumstance for this time period. The novel reveals her one love as well as her devotion to Mr. Morgan. She must constantly protect her secret. It if were to be revealed, it would affect her family who depend on her for her very nice salary, giving them a nice home. She basically supports most of her siblings and their spouses even though they also have jobs.

The novel intrigued me. I'm not sure I liked Belle, but I know I admire her for her courage and knowledge. Maybe because I never felt pulled into the novel, I felt distanced from her as well. I learned about an interesting woman even though I didn't necessarily love the book. I'm glad I read it.

Who was Belle Marion Greener, and who is Belle da Costa Greene? Her father is a black, civil rights educator and her wishful mother who wants to "cement 'white' status" for her family. Belle becomes the pawn in her family's game of educational and social climbing. Belle da Costa Greene it is.

Her parents go their separate ways and Princeton librarian, Belle da Costa Greene sets out to New York to interview and become the personal librarian for industrial magnate, JP Morgan. The character of Belle is a study in contrast. Educated in the arts and literature, Belle seizes her dream with her intellect and her flirty charm. She makes deals with savvy art collectors and travels in social circles with aplomb. It takes a lot of energy to become something you aren't.

Always at the back of her mind are her family's D.C. roots of her Greener kin -- her grandmother, uncles, and cousins living in another, but comfortable world. While working for Morgan, Belle lives with her mother and several siblings that also live the 'light skin' lie but to a lesser extent.

Belle's charms take her to a new level of drama, as Bernard Berensen, an art broker and heart breaker, threatens her happiness and her future. Being found out as an imposter is the least of her worries.

The death of JP Morgan is a turning point for Belle. She does 'cement' her place as the librarian for the Pierpoint Morgan Library.

This historical fiction piece is one of several by authors, Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murphy. Benedict uses strong women (educated in life or book learning) as protagonists that capably interact, and very well change, their employers for the better.

Belle da Costa Greene may not preserve the letters of her legacy, but she does allow us a glimpse into her dual-world -- one of being the dutiful daughter and the one leaving the world with knowledge of art, early 20th century history, and the promise that you can become whomever you choose to be.

I was thrilled when I received a digital copy via NetGalley of The Personal Librarian by authors, Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray. This is the remarkable story of Belle da Costa Greene who is hired as J. P. Morgan's personal librarian in her mid twenties. Before hearing about this book, I didn't know who Bella da Costa Greene was and that makes me sad! She was an empowering woman who stood her ground in rooms full of powerful and wealthy men and a racist world. I really enjoyed reading about the process of how Belle curated J.P. Morgan's collection full of rare books, artwork and manuscripts at the Pierpont Morgan Library. She knew what she wanted for the collection, how to negotiate and how to make herself well known and respected in the New York society scene.

While the library, curating process and the art and book world was exciting to read about, it was heartbreaking to read about Belle's family background. Belle da Costa Greene was not her real name. Her family changed their last name and due to their complexion, they were able to pass as white in society. While that may seem like a good thing, they struggled every day when it came to meeting new people, answering personal questions about their upbringing and trying to blend in and survive when money was tight and segregation was at an all time high. I couldn't imagine holding in that secret to all of society, close friends and colleagues and with romantic partners like Belle had to do her entire life.

Even though this is a fictionalized telling of Belle da Costa Greene's story, I know from the author notes in the back that it was well researched and thought out. I learned a lot from The Personal Librarian as well as articles online about this extraordinary woman. I hope to visit the Morgan Library and Museum some day! Thanks again to NetGalley and Berkley Books for the advanced reader copy. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys contemporary historical fiction!