The Personal Librarian by Marie B enedict and Victoria Christopher Murray is available as a \;print book\, a n \; e-book\, a \;downloadable audiobook\, an \;audiobook CD\, a \;large print book \;and as a \;Book Club Kit \;in The Library's collection.
\n"In her twenties\, Belle da Costa Greene is hired by J. Pierpont
Morgan to curate a collection of rare manuscripts\, books\, and artwork fo
r 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 worl
d\, known for her impeccable taste and shrewd negotiating for critical wor
ks as she helps build a world-class collection. But Belle has a secret\, o
ne she must protect at all costs. She was born not Belle da Costa Greene b
ut Belle Marion Greener. She is the daughter of Richard Greener\, the firs
t 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"