The Personal Librarian
Book Feature - The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray
HBL Note: “I swear - you bring me some of the best historical fiction!” That was my response to the publicist who brought this gem to my attention. This one looks ah-mazing. Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray bring to life the true story of Belle da Costa Greene, J.P Morgan’s personal librarian, the woman who created the Morgan Library’s famous manuscript collection, and a woman with a secret. Scroll down to read more about THE PERSONAL LIBRARIAN. This is one you won’t want to miss.
Book Feature - The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray
From the publisher:
This month is the perfect time to dip into THE PERSONAL LIBRARIAN (Berkley Hardcover; June 29, 2021), the incredible, timely, and special historical fiction by co-author team Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray.
THE PERSONAL LIBRARIAN tells the true story of Belle da Costa Greene, whose magnificent life has gone largely unnoticed. Hired by J.P. Morgan in 1905 to serve as his personal librarian, and creator of the Morgan Library’s famous manuscript collection, she became one of the most powerful people in the art world, and one of history’s most prominent librarians.
But Belle was hiding a secret: she was shielding her Black identity and “passing” for white.
This is not your everyday historical fiction novel. THE PERSONAL LIBRARIAN secures Belle the place in history she deserves—spotlighting her luminous career and highlighting her immense achievements, while also sharing her secret and personal inner world in a setting that would have been hostile towards her if her identity was revealed.
