The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict

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The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict

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The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict

The Instant New York Times Bestseller A Good Morning America* Book Club Pick

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 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 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.

Marie Benedict, a former New York City lawyer, had long fantasized about a fantasy work as an archaeologist or historian, unraveling the larger secrets of the past -- before she tried her hand at writing. She realized she could explore the probable realities buried in history through fiction while writing her first novel, THE OTHER EINSTEIN, the story of Mileva Maric, Albert Einstein's first wife and a physicist herself, and has done so in THE OTHER EINSTEIN. Marie also wrote The Chrysalis, The Map Thief, and Brigid of Kildare under the pen name Heather Terrell. She is a Boston College and Boston University School of Law graduate who currently resides in Pittsburgh with her family.

SKU Unavailable
ISBN 13 9780593101544
ISBN 10 0593101545
Title The Personal Librarian
Author Marie Benedict
Condition Unavailable
Binding Type Paperback
Publisher Random House USA Inc
Year published 2022-06-07
Number of pages 352
Cover note Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.
Note Unavailable