What a lovely story of hidden history! I loved learning about Belle and the writing was excellent. I have read many of Marie Benedict's novels and enjoyed them all. This time she teamed up with Victoria Christopher Murray to tell the story of Belle de Costa Greene, J.P. Morgan's personal librarian, who is an African American woman presenting as white. The constant trepidation that she feels being concerned that she will be found out and how she was able to make herself so successful in the art world make a tempting tale

This story of an amazing woman you probably have never hear of.

Bella da Costa Greene is an accomplished librarian with a dark, dangerous secret. J.P. Morgan chose her to help him build a library of priceless books and manuscripts and she excelled at locating rare works and had great purchasing skills. Her relationship with J.P. Morgan brings the reader a rare understanding of the financier and his love for the library.

Never married, she had a life among the art elite and a complicated romance with a married art dealer, Bernard Berenson. At all times her secret was paramount in how she lived.

The book moves along at a rapid pace. The authors’ prose and vivid descriptions put you into the scene.

I recommend this book to all lovers of historical fiction. It is one of the best I have ever read.

When you close a book and just say WOW. This book makes me want to learn more and aspire to be inclusive. I loved these authors pairing together, Benedict a champion for silenced women abs Christopher Murray a strong voice for black women. A good story with an important message

This is a powerful book about a powerful woman who must hide her true identity in order to succeed in a world full of racism as well as being a female in a world dominated by men. The authors thoroughly depict the time period in the United States as well as the unrest in Europe. As she works for the powerful JP Morgan as his personal librarian, Belle de Costa Greene lives and works in a world dominated by the wealthy. She struggles internally being born of the first black man to graduate from Harvard who spends his life fighting for race equality and a mother who concocts a background story for her family to pass as white in order to succeed. Her father leads a new life separate from his family as Belle forges on graduating from Princeton and becoming one of the most powerful women in a man’s world with a larger than life employer. Through her expertise and financial backing she acquires many sought after volumes for the Morgan personal library. We also experience her personal turmoil with life and various relationships. Well researched and well written! #ThePersonalLibrarian #MarieBenedict #VictoriaChristopherMurray #NetGalley

This was a fantastic book! It had history, romance, intrigue, social justice issues. It was easy to tell that the authors did their research and it was very believable.

Marie Benedict’s historical novels contain a bit of suspense for her main characters. The Personal Librarian keeps us on our toes until the end. Belle De La Costa Greene is the personal librarian to magnate J. P. Morgan, she encounters some poor choices, but mostly judicious choices during her years as the influential librarian. She has a great deal of love and empathy for her family, especially her mother. Mr, Morgan’s ruthless personality is quite evident evident in the story. Collecting valuable art and historical books remains at the the forefront of the story throughout the novel.

Wonderfully written book about a fascinating woman in American history. It is also a condemnation of the racial discrimination that has plagued our history. Bravo for Marie Benedict having the understanding that she could not write this book by herself. Adding Victoria Christopher Murray as the co-author gives authenticity to the feelings of the protagonist. This is my introduction to Marie Benedict as an author. Now I want to read more of the books that she has written about unsung women heroes.

A story of Belle, a (sometimes) monstrous titan of finance, and the fabulous library they built together. But this novel, based on the real life story of Belle da Costa Greene, is much more complicated, layered, and interesting than a fairy tale. It took me a few chapters to get into the story but I came to love the heroine’s balance of professional chutzpah and vulnerable heart, and the vibrant depictions of life in the gilded age (with attention to those not in the stratospheric heights of wealth). This would be an excellent bookclub pick, too - lots to talk about in terms of identity, race, womanhood, relationships, and, of course, books!

Its a very timely subject and the first book I have read from this author who comes highly recommended to me. I liked it but didnt really love it. I was impressed by the depth of the author's research and her sensitivity in taking on an African-American co-author to more fully understand the subject.

The Personal Librarian is a true love letter to librarians....this book captivated me from the very beginning. The author wrote so eloquently and descriptively that I felt I was there, alongside Bella working in this beautiful library. I now want to purchase multiple copies of this book to give to all of my friends.. Thank you for writing this book!

I am reading an early copy of this book. It is about Marion Greener, a light skinned black woman. In order to realize her dreams of a career, she changes her name to Belle LaCosta Greene, and passes herself off as white. She becomes the personal librarian for J. P. Morgan who is building and stocking his own personal library, the Pierpont Morgan Library.

I am reading this book during Black History Month. How ironic to be reading about a woman who feels that the only way to get ahead is to deny her blackness. It is 1903 and she is probably right, but I am saddened by this attitude.

Contrast that with another book I am reading, 42 Today. It is a book describing the activism of Jackie Robinson 45 years later. What a huge difference.

The Personal Librarian is very well written and in the voice of Belle. I think that Benedict has put the exact proper words in her mouth, depicting Belle as a highly educated speaker and thinker.

I recommend this historical fiction book as one that really makes you think.

4 stars

The Personal Librarian is an engrossing story about Belle da Costa Greene, a unique woman for her time and for our time as well. This piece of historical fiction is a well written and well plotted biography for a remarkable woman. Ms. Greene was the personal librarian to JP Morgan, helping and guiding him to build a library rivaled only by the best in the world. Greene started with Morgan in 1905 and served as his librarian until his death. Fortunately for all of us, after Morgan’s death she continued as the librarian for the collection and helped establish it as a reference library open to all in 1924.

During the time when she and Morgan were establishing the library, Greene was taking trips to Europe and buying manuscripts and other rare pieces of art - headily spending Morgan’s money (with his permission). All this doesn’t sound unusual now, but the turn of the 20th century it was rare to find a woman in business, let alone a single woman, who was entrusted with and did, spend huge amounts of money on acquisitions.

However, the crux of the story is that Belle da Costa Greene was “passing” as a white woman. At first, I was frustrated by the authors’ continuous mention of her passing and the anxiety it caused. After stepping away from the book for a couple of days, it occurred to me that as a white woman, I couldn’t possibly know or imagine the constant terror of being discovered as a member of the Black race; especially at the turn of the century with the rise of Jim Crow laws and the KKK. After that epiphany, I found the reminders of Greene’s anxiety crucial to understanding how successful she was and how amazing it was that she accomplished what she did. For you see, Greene didn’t hide in the library. As a Morgan’s personal librarian, she was invited to and attended the very rich people’s social affairs, including lavish parties and weekend get-aways. The story has other engrossing details about Greene’s life, including her affair with a married man. It was a life well lived and story well told. I hope you enjoy the book as much I did.

The Secrets Held Dear
"The Old North bell tolls the hour" begins the book and from there I did not put it down again until the very last "whose name was Belle da Costa Greene", The next day I read it again straight through. Benedict and Murray have created a wonderfully rich and well written look at life in the early 1900's and so much beyond.

Belle de Costa Greene was, historically, a very powerful woman and yet has never crossed my radar. The authors described a woman of great intelligence, style and depth one can never know enough about. For all the women I have read about and studied over the years this one should have crossed my radar sooner and yet did not. What a wonder - then or now. I look forward to continued research of Greene. Greene is the product of parents who funnel into her their deep personal though divergent passions all of which allowed her to succeed.

The secrets held dear by the characters in this amazing book are no different than many of the secrets such as race, religious and sexual identity held in the world today. The strains and constraints of holding these secrets dear are highlighted by many of the characters found in this book. The prejudice highlighted by the non-secret holders are the same against race, religion and a sexual identity proving history either keeps repeating itself or humans, as a rule, do not grow.

That being said there is so very much more to The Personal Librarian! The saga of how the Pierpoint Morgan Library grew from a small private library into the world class public institution of today primarily with the expertise of Greene, the personal librarian, and the money of J.P. Morgan along with his son Jack is fascinating.

The layers and layers of education in the areas of art, early manuscripts, fine art auctions, negotiations, politics, the early civil rights movement, "passing" for white, the suffragette movement, fashion of the day and lifestyles of the rich and famous. Anyone of these areas would have been a fine subject standing alone and yet due to expertise of the authors it is never overwhelming.

Perhaps and needless to say this is a fabulous book! This is a book which should be must for all but in particular for Book Clubs who could have many hours of discussion through the many layers.

What I love most about historical fiction is that you are twice blessed while reading the novel. One learns something new about some time or somebody in history with an added plus of a good story. This is how I feel about The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict. What a wonderful story about Belle’s triumphs as an independent woman in the early 1900’s. She is knowledgeable, carries the financial support of her family and is respected and trusted by one of the most influential man of the time, J. P. Morgan. Mr. Morgan not only relied on her expertise, but at times it appears that he might even have been in love with her. She accomplishes all of this while keeping the secret of her true heritage. Belle’s interior struggle to be her own woman, both professionally and ethically, tells the story of a woman in conflict. She yearns to honor her father and to help her people. A genuinely good book, both enjoyable and informative.

The Personal Librarian story is a compelling historical fiction of a black woman working as a white woman for JP Morgan. The inner tension of hiding her background and going to the extra miles to be her best and not bring attention to herself is palpable throughout the book. The heritage from her father also brings an element of questioning the benefits of living life as a white woman versus a life of sacrifice and suffering under the promise of equality. But the story is more than transcending the skin color. Belle da Costa Green was a strong woman who made her mark in a world predominant by white males. First, working for JP Morgan was in itself an accomplishment with his demands and special attentions. But where Belle da Costa Green shines is in the world of incunabula, arts, auctions and dealerships. I learned about Hans Memling illuminated manuscript, painted by Flemish illustrator Simon Bening. Also, I was fascinated by the research and discovery of Le Morte d’Arthur, the legend of King Arthur and the Knights at the Round Table, printed in 1485 by William Caxton, to name a few of the treasures mentioned in the story.
I will recommend this novel for my bookclub. There are so may themes to discuss.
Thank you BookBrowse and Netgalley for a free ebook in return for an honest review.

In a rather heavy-handed tone, this historical fiction lays out many serious big themes in the first two chapters, frequently in authors' message dialogue: racial prejudices and misogyny; people of colored ancestry passing as whites and the attendant stress and fear of exposure that choice generates in daily life; walking away from who one is, betraying oneself; hidden identities; the value of family, but also the burden of family; the value of the printed word and the near holiness of rare books; and fine arts appreciation. (I found it ironic that the black Fleet family is much more cultured than its white neighbors.) Add to that weighty list the debilitating laws of segregation, the deceptive rules of society, nontraditional lifestyles and how distressful emotions must be buried. It's a lot to cover, particularly since the story is based on true events and historical characters.

I did not find a way into Belle's emotional life to adequately engage my even caring about her much. I found the irascible J.P.Morgan more accessible in multiple scenes, but Belle remained elusive and cold. That the story is embedded in a world of high society and art adds interest, culture and beauty to the novel's atmosphere. It's an extremely fascinating tale; I just wished Belle could come more alive to me. But perhaps that is at the very heart of her dilemma: always a careful actor on stage and never simply a woman.

very enjoyable. i was not familiar with this author and was provided an early copy through bookbrowse. this is one of those stories of history that is a unique slice, non-mainstream that is an interesting perspective. the characters have some "nuances", but instead of presenting those too often, they are just right. the book stays with the main plot and keeps it simple. i can read late at night and still remember the next day. i will look now at more books by this lady.

I'm sure most of you are unfamiliar with the person written about in THE PERSONAL LIBRARIAN (Berkley) by authors, Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray. She happens to be one of the most interesting people I've ever read about, and I believe you will find her intriguing too.

In 1905, at the age of twenty-one, Belle da Costa Green was hired by financier, steel, railroad and electric power magnate, J.P. Morgan to become his personal librarian for the collection he wanted to build. He entrusted her completely, to negotiate for and buy millions of dollars worth of manuscripts, books and art for Morgan. She told Morgan, who was willing to pay any price for important works, that her goal was to make his library "pre-eminent, especially for incunabula, manuscripts, bindings and the classics." Acquiring rare and valuable items was a way wealthy families showed off their status. Belle was immediately welcomed into New York City's high-society and was soon mingling with Astors, Vanderbilts, Carnegies and other members of the "swells."

But from the very beginning, Belle had a secret. It was a secret that if discovered would crumble down and destroy her and her family, who she provided for. I'm not going to give away the secret, but the whole story is true, with some literary license, and really amazing.

Belle was a trailblazer as a single, successful career woman in the early in the early 1900's. THE PERSONAL LIBRARIAN deals family, sacrifice, truth and lies. A definite must read.

Belle is a young black woman with great ambition and a love of books and art that was fostered by her father who she was very close to as a young girl. Her skin is light and her mother feels that her children will have a better life if they pass for white. So Belle sets out to get a job with JP Morgan to be his librarian and build his personal library to be the best in the world.

While I was reading this book I didn't realize it was based on a real person. I thought it was a nice story but once I knew that Belle was based on a real person I was very intrigued. I just can't imagine how difficult it must have been to pretend to be someone with such a huge secret. She was such an intelligent and strong woman with amazing ambition. It was interesting to see how she developed within herself and with her relationship with JP Morgan.
There seems to be a lot to discuss in this book concerning racism, women's rights, and moral issues.
I really enjoyed learning some of the history of that era and getting to know Belle.
I did think it went on a little long with too many book acquisitions.

Combining fiction and history Benedict and Murray do a wonderful job of bringing the relationship between JP Morgan and Bella Greene to light. Bella, who’s hiding the secret of her origin is a trailblazer and interesting woman. I really enjoyed this look at history through fiction.