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The personal librarian / Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray.

Summary:
"The remarkable, little-known story of Belle da Costa Greene, J. P. Morgan's personal librarian--who became one of the most powerful women in New York despite the dangerous secret she kept in order to make her dreams come true. In her twenties, Belle da Costa Greene is hired by J. Pierpont Morgan to curate a collection of rare manuscripts, books, and artwork for his newly built Morgan Library. Belle becomes a fixture on the New York society scene 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 build 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 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--for the protection of her family and her legacy--to preserve her carefully crafted white identity in the racist world in which she lives."-- Provided by publisher.

Record details

  • ISBN: 9780593101537
  • ISBN: 9780593101544
  • Physical Description: 341 pages ; 24 cm
  • Publisher: New York : Berkley, 2021.

Content descriptions

General Note:
"A Good Morning America book club pick!"--Cover.
Subject: Greene, Belle da Costa > Fiction.
African American women > Fiction.
Passing (Identity) > Fiction.
Racism > United States > Fiction.
Women librarians > Fiction.
New York (N.Y.) > History > 1898-1951 > Fiction.
Genre: Biographical fiction.
Historical fiction.

Available copies

  • 61 of 121 copies available at SPARK Libraries.

Holds

  • 20 current holds with 121 total copies.
Show All Copies
Location Call Number / Copy Notes Barcode Shelving Location Status Due Date
Alexander Hamilton Memorial Free Library F BEN (Text) 37268003102266 AHMFL Adult Fiction Available -
Annie Halenbake Ross Library F Ben (Text)
Memorial: In remembrance of Regina Kraus by Dennis and Jane Marasco.
00155170 ADULT Fiction Available -
Ashland Public Library FIC BEN (Text)
Memorial: In Memory of John Beck
30399000355431 Fiction Available -
Bangor Public Library F BEN (Text) 75011000356805 Adult Fiction Available -
Blossburg Memorial Library F BEN (Text) 30063000256430 Adult Fiction Available -
Boyertown Community Library BEN (Text) 33249024149951 Fiction Available -
Coudersport Public Library FIC BEN (Text) 30183000944189 Adult Fiction Available -
Degenstein Community Library FIC BENEDICT (Text) 35031301190400 Adult Fiction Available -
Dillsburg Area Public Library Adults BEN Fiction (Text) 34001001394558 Adult Area Available -
Ebensburg Public Library FIC BEN (Text) 31814700841148 EBNM Fiction Recently Returned -


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