The Instant New York Times Bestseller! A Good Morning America*
Book Club Pick!
Named a Best Book of the Year by NPR! Named a Notable Book of the Year
by the Washington Post!
"Historical fiction at its best!"*
A remarkable novel about 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 in order to leave a lasting legacy that
enriched our nation, from New York Times bestselling authors Marie
Benedict and 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.
