I enjoyed this book, the Morgan Library is one of my favorite places in Manhattan and getting into the history of it was fun. Sometimes the writing was a bit clunky but the plot moved it along enough that I was satisfied.

I had not heard of Belle da Costa Greene and am very glad I was able to learn more about this incredible woman. I also appreciated the historical note at the end of the book that explained a bit about the actual history and the authors' writing process.

The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray gives us a glimpse into the life of Belle da Costa Greene, a powerful woman of color who was decades ahead of her time. This fictionalized version of her life uses Greene's own voice to tell her story, based upon extensive research. Once I got comfortable with the rhythm of the writing and Belle's rather formal style of expressing herself, I was riveted. Here was a woman from a mixed-race background who began her career working for financier J.P. Morgan in 1905 when women, let alone women of color, did not have the right to vote and were virtually never in positions of influence. In order to achieve her success she followed the direction of her mother who decided early on that she and all of her five children would live as white people, doing whatever it took to "pass." The novel explores the stress and repercussions of adopting this role and the huge impact it had on Belle's life, as well as the sexism and harassment women took for granted in that era. At the same time, it presents a fascinating story of the founding of the Morgan Library, the development of its collection, and the exclusive world of art and rare book collectors of the early 20th century.

As a librarian who loves history, I can’t believe I’d never heard about Belle da Costa Greene. Belle was Black woman forced by societal constraints to live as a white woman and worked with J.P. Morgan to build the unparalleled Pierpont Morgan Library. I highly recommend.

I devoured this book in one day! The collaboration between authors Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray provided a rich detailing to the life of librarian Belle da Costa Greene. Prior to this book I had never even heard of this remarkable woman. By securing a position as the personal librarian to J. P. Morgan, Belle was able to provide for her family and excel at her career far beyond anything she dreamed or imagined. She embodied the strengths and capabilities of females in a time where women were still struggling to assert themselves as equals. Her secret heritage always kept her on edge and prodded her to evaluate what her role as a black woman should be. I fully enjoyed the intensity of the fictionalized perception of the relationships Belle developed within her sphere. The juxtaposition of the paths her life took have taken were starkly different. The authors took the time needed to ensure readers felt the magnitude of the effects Belle's mother's decision. Excellent book!

I received a copy of this title via NetGalley.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this book.
I thought this story was fascinating. All I really knew about JP Morgan was that he was a business and railroad tycoon that made millions in the late 19th and early 20th century. I didn't realize that he also spent a lot of money on rare manuscripts and art and was creating a special library just for these items. To help him with this, along come Belle de Costa Greene, an African American woman who passed herself as white to get this position. It was interesting to see how important Belle was to JP Morgan and how he respected her business savvy to make outrageous deals . I looked her up online and the information I found about her was also in the book. Great research by the authors.
It is so refreshing to read about strong, brave, fearless women who did make a difference in the past but only now are we starting to learn more about them. I really like this book and not just because it has the word Librarian in the title. :)
Now, if I ever get to NYC one of my first stops will be the Pierpont Morgan Library.

The Personal Librarian...right away, the title intrigued me. In part because of always loving books about books and libraries along with a career in libraries, then the story! I was captivated with this book by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray. The authors introduce us to this very interesting woman in history, Belle da Costa Greene. I glad I now know the personal librarians‘s remarkable
story and have been reading more about her since finishing this book . There are so many historical figures many don’t know much about and should. Belle da Costa Greene is one of them. She was the personal librarian to JP Morgan, and she help him develop a most stellar book and art collection, going on to be the J..P. Morgan Library’s director, and was one of the must successful career woman of her time all while living with a personal
secret that sadly could possibly greatly change things. For her. And her family. An important story well told.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an EARC of this book.
Historical fiction that stays true to real life events in the life of Belle Greene, personal librarian to JP Morgan. I did not know her story and found it fascinating particularly the trials she faced passing as white in a time when she could not have succeeded had anyone known she was a light skinned negro. Well developed, believable characters along with fascinating account of the world of antiquities and collectable art.

What a surprise this book is! I was unaware of the story (and secret) of Belle la Costa Greene, her incredible life and contribution to the country through the designation of the Morgan library as a public institution. A massively generous gift to a country that would not have accepted her had it known her true identity.

I appreciated Belle's optimism about a better day ahead.

I've been itching to read Marie Nebdict. Glad this one was my first.

I've never been a huge fan of historical fiction, but as a librarian I was intrigued by the title. I also have many patrons who read Marie Benedict so I thought I'd give this one a chance. I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN! The intriguing story of JP Morgan's personal librarian is one that many will find fascinating. From her childhood, family life and how becoming linked to the Morgan family leads Belle on a journey she could never dream of. Highly recommend for any historical fiction lover and those who like author BA Shapiro or similar.

You'll get a skewed review, I 'm sure, from all the librarians on this site! Like everyone else, I'm sure, I love reading about smart librarians who changed the world. This was an entertaining and educational read. I enjoyed it very much.

The writing team of Benedict and Murray delivers an intriguing portrait of a talented and ambitious woman in the early 20th century men's world of art and rare book collecting. Belle is a young librarian at Princeton who has become an expert in rare books and manuscripts. She is offered her dream job--creating and curating a library of the world's most sought after books with a virtually unlimited budget. Her new boss? None other than J.P. Morgan, whose wealth and aesthetic tastes are harnessed by Belle to build what will become the Pierpont Morgan Library in Manhattan (now known as The Morgan Library & Museum). The only catch is that Belle is concealing her racial heritage--she and her family are light-skinned Black people, originally from Washington D.C. and now living in Brooklyn and passing as white. This is a secret that, if revealed, would devastate the lives of Belle and her family.

Though the racial tension provides an element of drama and suspense--Belle must constantly be on guard from letting slip any hint of her background--the story of this remarkable woman and her accomplishments in the art world is compelling in itself. We can thank her for the eventual evolution of this unique library into a research facility open to the public. A detailed historical note informs us that Belle de Costa Greene (born Belle Marion Greener) was in fact a woman who broke many barriers in her life and her work. The writing is rich with historical detail and fluid with solid character development and believable dialog. Since this is a novel based on a biography, the plot may not deliver all we might hope for in a work of fiction. Biography, after all, is never as tidy as a crafted plot. The authors also must, out of necessity, speculate on the nature and details of some of the relationships between these characters. Was the affection and flirtation between Belle and J.P. really one of mutual consent? In this era (or any other, for that matter) a powerful employer wielding sexual coercion over his assistant would not be surprising. In any case, the historical background and notes on the writing of the novel reassure us that the authors have done their homework. Kudos must also be given to Marie Benedict, who developed an interest in Belle and formed an idea for the novel, but realized that as a white woman, she wasn't equipped to tell the story. She deliberately recruited a writing partner who could give the character's voice and situations more authenticity. Given the results, we might hope that these two find themselves teaming up again.

What a wonderful book detailing the life and work of an early 20th century librarian I knew nothing about. The co-authors Benedict and Murray have written an excellent portrayal of the life and times of Belle De Costa Greene and her work in the Morgan Library. The tension that she must surely have lived with was very well depicted in the book

Marie Benedict writes fantastic historical fiction novels and she's written another one with THE PERSONAL LIBRARIAN. I haven't read anything by Victoria Christopher Murray, but definitely will after this book. This was a wonderful collaboration about a woman named Belle da Costa Greene who was the librarian and curator for J. P. Morgan's library of rare books and manuscripts. She tells the story of how she gains respect in the auction world, which is male dominated with her knowledge of rare books as well as her business sense. The struggle she has is she's a light skinned African American woman trying to pass for a caucasian woman. She does this because that is the only way she could get a job like this one. She's worried her secret will be discovered and she won't be able to help provide for her family. Her struggle with denying her true identity is very thought provoking throughout the book. I found her story to be very interesting and it kept me wanting to read about her. We need to learn more about amazing women like Belle who was an important part of history, but no one ever knew her story.

This book gets four stars based on the authors' notes at the end alone--it was really interesting to hear about their research, their writing processes, and how they connected. I've read other Benedict novels and enjoyed them, and I'm so glad she invited Victoria Christopher Murray to co-write this one, I think that was the right move.

Personal Librarian
This is an incredible book about an amazing woman. A young black woman passing as white, entered the world of J.P. Morgan and conquered it. Taking a job as J.P.Morgan's personal secretary, she proceeded to help him create and build the Pierpoint Morgan Library. Based on a real woman, this fictional account brings to light and life Belle de Costa Greene. Amazing on so many levels, Personal Librarian is not a book to be missed. Never mind that the writing is excellent, the story is fascinating.

When it comes to The Personal Librarian I cannot come to a single conclusion; I liked it but I also didn't like it. I was intrigued but I was also bored. I enjoyed it but I also rushed through it to get it over with.

Marie Benedict's and Victoria Christopher Murray's The Personal Library is a historical fiction based on the life of Belle da Costa Greene, born Belle Marion Greener. After J.P. Morgan builds the Pierpont Morgan Library in New York, wanting to create the most impressive collection of books, art and manuscripts, he hires Belle to be his personal librarian. The year is 1905 and Jim Crow is creeping up north. While her light complexion, confidence and expertise in her field allow her to assimilate into high society, Belle has to be very careful not to reveal her African-American descent, which would ruin everything she has built.

This is not the first time Benedict brought a powerful female character from the past to life. Her book The Only Woman in the Room about an actress Hedy Lamarr, who was also a scientist in disguise helping fight the Nazis, was a very pleasant and interesting read. This time, together with Murray, the two wrote a story that also started very interestingly. Before it stopped being interesting.

The first half of the book, following Belle's assimilation into the society she knew she didn't belong in, felt thrilling and curious. It was fun to follow along—the more comfortable she felt, the sassier she became, flirting with men, asserting her position.

But the higher Belle rose, the more I started to feel disconnected from the character I became so fond of. Writing in first person is a challenge for the character's objectivity, which is forgivable. But the issue here comes from oddly constructed sentences that ended up sounding unrealistic even as thoughts, let alone spoken words.

When Belle described what it felt like to be in the back room of the museum restricted to employees only, and compared it to the magic of being backstage of a Broadway show, I felt pulled out of the story. How is this comparison helpful and how would the character ever know what being backstage is like?

Belle's thought "standing so close that I inhale every breath he exhales..." did not arouse feelings of intimacy but rather made me cringe.

The character started to feel indifferent, the story apathetic, the sentences carelessly put together. So many emotional events have been going on, yet none of it had any effect on me as the reader. I lost my connection to Belle.

After finishing the story, I launched an internet search to get to know the full story of Belle da Costa Greene and was pleasantly surprised by how faithful The Personal Librarian is to Belle's life. I am glad I came across it and got introduced to Belle.

While I cannot decide whether I overall liked it or not, one thing is certain — next time in New York, I will pay a visit to the Pierpont Morgan Library.

I didn’t know what to expect when I began reading this book, but I found a very well-written historical novel about a remarkable woman I’d never before heard if.

Belle da Costa Greene was J.P. Morgan’s personal librarian as he compiled his personal collection of paintings, books, manuscripts, and”incunabala” or very rare, very old and valuable pieces of written material. Belle’s audacious personality seemed to be just what he needed to put his total trust in her to help him acquire a collection unlike any other in the world.

There was a great deal that could be said of this unique woman, but perhaps the most interesting is that she was a “colored “ woman passing as white. To think of what she accomplished while keeping her racial identity a secret is astounding! Very good book by two authors, one white, one black. Interesting author’s notes at end of book.

I received this book from the publisher via net galley in exchange for an honest review.

Belle da Costa Greene lands the dream job of personal librarian to J. Pierpont Morgan, the financier who dominated Corporate finance on Wall Street during the gilded age. Belle makes herself invaluable to Morgan as she expands his collection of books, art and artifacts. She becomes a trusted personal friend to him as well. But Belle has a secret that could ruin everything if it ever came out. This historical fiction account of Morgan and Belle is rich with details of the period and of the relationships that Belle develops as she takes the art world by storm.

How fitting that I finished this book on International Women's Day! Marie Benedict is known for novels about strong women who are behind the scenes making significant contributions to society. This book certainly fits the mold. This is my first time reading a book by author Victoria Christopher Murray, and I will likely seek out more of her writing after this.

Belle is a young, light skinned, African American woman whose family has chosen to live as white in New York City to avoid the being discriminated against and advance in their careers. Belle is a librarian in the early 1900's--a time when African Americans are not able to find decent paying jobs and even run the risk of being lynched. It is essential that she keeps the secret of her heritage hidden if she wants be continue to build her career. In the early parts of her career, she becomes friends with a nephew of the famous financier J.P. Morgan, who gets her a job as his personal librarian in his brand new Pierpont Morgan Library. Belle quickly proves her worth by advising Mr. Morgan in all of his acquisitions, and using her bold personality to build his vast collection of art and antiquities. She becomes well known for her success among the New York City elite and ultimately throughout Europe.

This is a truly amazing and fascinating story of a woman who is willing to do anything to preserve her legacy and provide for her family while risking everything hiding behind a fake identity.