The Personal Librarian

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! ΓÇ£Historical fiction at its best!ΓÇ¥* A remarkable novel about J. P. MorganΓÇÖs personal librarian,Belle da Costa Greenethe 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 nationfrom New York Times bestselling authors Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray. In her twentiesBelle da Costa Greene is hired by J. P. Morgan to curate a collection of rare manuscriptsbooksand 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 worldknown for her impeccable taste and shrewd negotiating for critical works as she helps create a world-class collection. But Belle has a secretone she must protect at all costs. She was born not Belle da Costa Greene but Belle Marion Greener. She is the daughter of Richard Greenerthe first Black graduate of Harvard and a well-known advocate for equality. BelleΓÇÖs complexion isnΓÇÖt dark because of her alleged Portuguese heritage that lets her pass as whiteΓÇöher complexion is dark because she is African American. The Personal Librarian tells the story of an extraordinary womanfamous for her intellectstyleand witand shares the lengths she must go toΓÇöfor the protection of her family and her legacyΓÇöto preserve her carefully crafted white identity in the racist world in which she lives.