In 1905 Belle de Costa Greene was hired by JP Morgan to help him with his new library’s rare books and art works. Belle had been recommended by Morgan’s nephew who met her when she worked with rare books at the Princeton University library. Belle’s knowledge of rare books, art and incunabula, was due to her father who encouraged her to learn more about those topics.
However Belle had a deep secret. She has been named Belle Marion Greener at birth. Her parents were both black but Belle and her siblings had light complexions as did their mother, Genevieve. So Genevieve decided it was to their advantage to change the family name of her and her children and “pass” as whites when they moved to NYC. Belle’s new middle name was attributed falsely to a Portuguese grandmother. She would infer that her olive skin tone was due to the Portuguese heritage.
In reality Belle’s father, Richard Greener, was the first black man to graduate from Harvard, had a law degree and was active in the fight for racial equality. Her mother had been a member of a renowned black family in Washington,DC. When the family moved to NYC, Genevieve cut ties with her family and encouraged her children to pursue college degrees and become professionals which was easier to do as whites.
Morgan was impressed with Belle’s knowledge and relied heavily on the young woman to catalog and even purchase rare items for the library. Often Belle was the only woman present at an important auction. However since she represented Morgan’s interests, she was both feared and respected by the buyers and sellers alike.
Throughout her life Belle kept her secret even though she had regrets about turning her back on black relatives in order to work in the Morgan’s world of wealthy and privilege. Morgan was fond of her and eventually included her in family and social events.
This book was based on a real person and the authors did much research before writing the book. I found this book interesting as it gave insight into how the great Morgan Library in NYC was created and eventually opened to the public. I have visited the library several times and am always in awe of the rare books (e.g. Gutenberg bible) on display.

As a fan of historical fiction, and a librarian, I was very enticed by the subject of this novel, Belle DeCosta Greene, the librarian hired by J.P. Morgan to build his library of art, books and manuscritps. But over all, it was slow mving and did not grip my attention. Since Belle herself had destroyed all her personal correspondence, I also felt there was far too much internal thought attributed to her in the first person narrative; too much seemed speculation. A noble effort, but not a favorite for me.

Thank you for writing about this inspirational woman! Belle Da Costa Greene broke so many glass ceilings of her day, carving out a successful career amongst men, creating a phenenomenal collection of book antiquities, hobnobbing with societies Fourhundred during the Gilded Age and doing it all while concealing her true heritage. Remarkable!

Both authors brought this period of time to life and were masters at weaving in the personal desires and daily concerns of Belle. I loved hearing about her ruthless negotiating, and her ease at conversing with both men and women well above her social status. I appreciated the sensitivity of the subject of her race and the way the authors didn't condone her for her mothers choices but explained it from all sides.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC. I loved it.

I was prepared for a weak reception of this book. I was thrilled by Benedict's "Only Woman in the Room" but have found her other works to be heavy with dates and moments in history that seem to drag the narrative rather than press it forward. This book had many of the same moments, but I am still fascinated by the subject.

Belle da Costa Greene was the personal librarian to J.P. Morgan from the height of his wealth and fame until his death. Born Marion Belle Greener, child of the first African-American graduate of Harvard, she was raised with her Fleet family, in a prominent Black neighborhood of Washington DC. After the dismissal of the Civil Rights Act, rampant racism led to her father's increased activist activity and to her family's separation. Belle and the children remained with their mother, who reported their race to the census bureau as "white". The family's fair complexion even with their "dark blood" allowed the lie to pass. Belle was educated, employed by the Princeton University Library, and was hired by Mr. Morgan, leading to her reputation of being one of the most accomplished antiquities curators of her time. All as a Black woman.

There were several points in this book that give a peek into the unspoken undesirable lifestyles of the past that we learned to accept in the modern age: relationships with multiple partners, same-sex relationships, interracial marriage, etc. There are moments of pure racist attitudes, primarily toward the Jewish and Black individuals, that are disturbing but completely accurate when depicting history. I was ecstatic to learn that Benedict's co-author was BIPOC, ensuring we weren't being given another white narrative into the life of a BIPOC individual, no matter how fictionalized it was.

The Personal Librarian is the story of J. P. Morgan's librarian. This woman played a huge point in acquiring the huge collection of art and manuscripts in Morgan's famous library. She also was influential in the Morgan family's decision to make the collection available to the public. What people at the time never knew was that she was an African American passing as white in order to escape the racism of the period.

Read if you: Want a gripping read about a woman caught between two worlds. If Gilded Age fiction is your thing, this is definitely one you should read!

Marie Benedict is one of my favorite authors, so I was intrigued to see how her collaboration with a co-author, Victoria Christopher Murray, would turn out. I'm not always a fan of books written by multiple authors--but this works perfectly. No awkwardness or sudden shifts at all. Take time to read their authors' notes at the end; well worth the read.

Librarians/booksellers: This is likely an automatic purchase for your historical fiction patrons/customers.

Many thanks to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for a digital review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Set in the early 1900s, Belle da Costa Greene is a librarian at Princeton University. She is approached by a patron of the university who is related to J.P. Morgan. He thinks Belle would be perfect for the new position of personal librarian for the Pierpont Morgan Library. Morgan wants someone to build and manage his collection. Belle gets the job and starts to create one of the most outstanding collections in the United States. Belle has a secret - she is actually a light-skinned Black woman passing as white. If this fact ever got out, she and her entire family would be disgraced, and end up in poverty, since Belle helped support her family.

Belle travels in high society circles, and makes regular trips to England to auctions, where she bids and wins even more outstanding collectibles for the Pierpont Morgan Library. Benedict and Murray paint a wonderful picture of rare books and collectibles, living in and absorbing the rarified atmosphere of Gilded Age society.

Authors Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray have brought forward another little-known but important woman from history. Not only did Belle da Costa Greene become the personal librarian to J. P. Morgan, one of the most powerful men in America, but she did so while living the secret life of a colored person passing as white. The authors do an excellent job of portraying the struggles of a woman succeeding in a man's world as well as the emotional stress of living a secret identity.

More historical than fiction, this novel reads as a memoir in its way. Belle was both all that she seemed and none of what she seeme—a costly dichotomy that drives this memorable story.

I’ve been a fan of all of Marie’s books. They are perfect book discussion books. Well written and well researched. With this book she has collaborated with a octopi a Christopher Murray and it is a winning combination. The story of Belle da Costa Greene, pulls you in immediately. The Black American woman who changes her name, renounces her heritage and passes herself off as white to become the personal librarian of JP Morgan. Thanks to Belle’s knowledge and shrewd negotiating skills, she helps build a world-class collection. Yet she must keep her identity a secret. Strong and formidable; Belle is vulnerable . A wonderful look at a piece of history is brought to light.

I love how Marie Benedict brings real people to life in fictional settings and this book was no exception. An intriguing fictional re-telling of the life of Belle da Costa Green/Belle Marion Greener, personal librarian to J.P. Morgan. Totally enjoyed reading this.

In 2007, Heidi Ardizzone wrote the definitive - and excellent - biography of Bella da Costa Greene, An Illuminated Life: Belle da Costa Greene’s Journey from Prejudice to Privilege. Now, Marie Benedict (author of The Other Einstein, Carnegie’s Maid, Lady Clementine, and other biographical novels) and Victoria Christopher Murray have written a novel based on the remarkable life of J. P. Morgan’s personal librarian. Belle’s father, Richard Greener, was the first African American graduate of Harvard College, and her mother was from an elite, mixed race family. After settling in Washington, D.C. and then Philadelphia, the Greeners found life to be better in New York City, further from segregation and Jim Crow, when Richard was invited to serve on the Grant Monument Association there. Because of their light skin, they were able to live in a white neighborhood and live as white people. Richard, who was dedicated to working for equality and civil rights for African Americans, loved his family but was happy to be asked to serve in President McKinley’s diplomatic corps, where he could live as the black man he was proud to be. And Belle’s mother, who stayed in New York, changed her and the children’s last name to Greene, as it sounded more “white.” Belle worked with Morgan’s nephew, Junius Morgan, when they both worked at the Princeton library, and in 1905 when J. P. Decided to hire a librarian for his own growing collection, Junius encouraged Belle to apply. J. P. Was immediately taken with the striking, self-confident 26 year-old, and hired her on the spot. Belle became responsible for building his collection, and went to auctions and estates throughout Europe to seek the very best rare books and manuscripts. She associated with other collectors and lovers of fine art and books, including Bernard Berenson (with whom she had an affair), the Vanderbilts, the Wideners, and others. But always passing as white. (She was afraid to marry and have children, fearing that her black heritage might be exposed.) Hers was a wonderful life - indeed, a life of great accomplishment and rare privilege - and also a life of extreme devotion to her work and to Morgan, though she also had to devote herself to keeping her family and background completely secret, so it was also a sad, even heart-breaking life. Benedict and Murray have succeeded in making her life and its imposed singularity become vividly - and sometimes painfully - real to their readers.

This was a very interesting look at early libraries & how one strong & unforgettable librarian helped preserve history, & in doing so, made history.

Lovely story about a delightful woman. She keeps her secrets tight and manages to be achieve an extremely high level of career success. Stomping that glass ceiling to dust. I love "secret" histories like this.

The Peronal Librarian will appeal to anyone getting their first professional job, “faking it ‘til they make it.” The late nineteenth century glimpse of life in a J. P. Morgan world contrasted with that of a more typical New York family offers a unique insight. The story seen through the eyes of a young woman finding her position in a man’s profession while hiding a secret she dare not reveal gives the story an element of suspense.

This intriguing book is the fictional retelling of the life of Marion Greener who became the personal librarian for JP Morgan. I love how Benedict brings historical figures to life and, in this particular case I am glad she collaborated so she could give the story an own voices side. Interesting perspective from a character who has to pass as white.

An interesting and informative story of Belle da Costa Green and Belle Marion Greener -- one person, two names. Belle is hired to be J.P. Marogan's personal librarian. She must hide her true identity by pretending to be white when in reality she is considered colored by the rules of her time. She navigates this by walking a narrow path, never letting her guard down.
With her knowledge, skill over years of negotiating with art dealers, she builds Mr. Morgan's private library. But Belle's goal is to have the library made public, not limited in scope. Belle travels to Europe to purchase art, ancient books.
Read this historical novel while learning about race relations and the times of the early 20th century.

Marie Benedict has done it again with the help of Victoria Christopher Murray! They have woven a beautiful story detailing the life of an important woman that many have not known. As Belle da Costa Greene hides in plain sight, she lives a life where she does not quite fit in with any group she encounters: wealthy patrons, art and manuscript dealers, white aristocracy. Yet she builds her reputation and dazzles them all with her intellect, wit, and deep commitment to building the Piermont Morgan Library's collection and acclaim. She holds a secret that would ruin her professionally, personally and her legacy--always fearful of being found out for who she is. Belle sacrifices greatly to hid her secret and to support her family. Even today, Belle's life and position would be difficult, Bendict and Murray deftly allow us see life though Belle's eyes and hear in the early 1900s when much more was at stake. JP Morgan, his family, world, and friends come alive on these guilded pages. Not only do we learn of the amazing intellect, craft, and dedication to the Morgan Library that Belle demonstrates, we learn much of society as a whole and how all should be treated as equals.

This is the story of Belle da Costa Greene J.P. Morgan's personal librarian. The story of her rise to success and relationship with Morgan are fascinating. It is amazing what she managed to do as a woman in the male dominated world of wealth, rare manuscripts and fine art. But there is more to her story. She was born Belle Marion Greener, daughter of the first black man to graduate from Harvard. Because of increasing racism and Jim Crow laws she hides her race in order to make her way in the world of academia and literati. The authors do a good job of showing her precarious situation and what she sacrifices and gains. There is a lot to discuss in this story.

Fascinating story of a personal librarian to J.P.Morgan who owns many very expensive paintings, books. How Belle developed her relationships and became his most treasured librarian. Belle struggles with being black and hides it. Based on many facts this was a sad and heartening at the same time. Loved it. Historical