The Personal Librarian

by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray

How could a young girl with a secret, who otherwise shouldn’t belong, manage to be accepted and revered in 1905 New York society? Belle da Costa Greene does just that with her knowledge of art and books, and becomes the Personal Librarian to J. P. Morgan for his new Pierpont Library. Her secret is that she is passing as white in a racially prejudiced New York society. Her educated family is torn by her decision to live this way, in spite of her success. The personal relationship with Morgan, his family and others she meets in the art world combine to give us a great story.

Ree, Harbor Books, Old Saybrook