Book Review: The Personal Librarian
Genre: Historical FictionPublished June 29, 2021 Print Length: 352 pages
“Benedict, who is white, and Murray, who is African American, do a good job of depicting the tightrope Belle walked, and her internal conflict from both sides—wanting to adhere to her mother's wishes and move through the world as white even as she longed to show her father she was proud of her race. Like Belle and her employer, Benedict and Murray had almost instant chemistry, and as a result, the book's narrative is seamless. And despite my aversion to the passing trope, I became hooked.” —NPR
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| Belle da Costa Greene |
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 a 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 to—for the protection of her family and her legacy—to preserve her carefully crafted white identity in the racist world in which she lives.
About Victoria Christopher Murray
Victoria Christopher Murray is the New York Times bestselling author of more than 30 novels. Her novel, The Personal
Librarian, which she co-authored with Marie Benedict was an
Instant New York Times bestseller and her novel, Stand Your
Ground won an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary
Work - Fiction. Two of her novels, Lust and Envy have been
made into TV movies for Lifetime. She holds an MBA from the
NYU Stern School of Business. Genres: Inspirational,
About Marie Benedict
Marie Benedict (a pseudonym used by Heather Terrell) is a
lawyer with more than ten years' experience as a litigator at
two of the country's premier law firms, who found her calling
unearthing the hidden historical stories of women. Her
mission is to excavate from the past the most important, complex
lawyer with more than ten years' experience as a litigator at
two of the country's premier law firms, who found her calling
unearthing the hidden historical stories of women. Her
mission is to excavate from the past the most important, complex
and fascinating women of history and bring them into the light of
present-day where we can finally perceive the breadth of their
contributions as well as the insights they bring to modern day issues.
She embarked on a new, thematically connected series of historical
novels. She lives in Pittsburgh with her family.
Links:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55333938
In her twenties, Belle da Costa Greene is hired by J. P. Morgan to curate a collection of rare manuscripts, books, and artwork for his newly built Pierpont Morgan Library. Belle becomes a fixture in New York City society 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 create a world-class collection.
The Personal Librarian tells the story of an extraordinary woman, famous for her intellect, style, and wit, and shares the lengths she must go to—for the protection of her family and her legacy—to preserve her carefully crafted white identity in the racist world in which she lives.
Who Was J.P. Morgan?
Born into a prominent New England family in 1837, J.P. Morgan began his
career in the New York financial industry in the late 1850s. He co-founded
the banking firm that became J.P. Morgan & Co. in 1871, and in the 1880s
he established himself as a power player in the country's railroad industry.
Along with amassing immense wealth through the creation of such
corporations as U.S. Steel, Morgan led efforts to bail out the U.S. Treasury
in 1895 and 1907.
career in the New York financial industry in the late 1850s. He co-founded
the banking firm that became J.P. Morgan & Co. in 1871, and in the 1880s
he established himself as a power player in the country's railroad industry.
Along with amassing immense wealth through the creation of such
corporations as U.S. Steel, Morgan led efforts to bail out the U.S. Treasury
in 1895 and 1907.
J.P. Morgan was known for reorganizing businesses to make them more
profitable and stable and gaining control of them. He reorganized several
major railroads and became a powerful railroad magnate. He also financed
industrial consolidations that formed General Electric, U.S. Steel, and
International Harvester.
profitable and stable and gaining control of them. He reorganized several
major railroads and became a powerful railroad magnate. He also financed
industrial consolidations that formed General Electric, U.S. Steel, and
International Harvester.
Morgan died in Rome, Italy, in his sleep in 1913 at the age of 75, leaving his fortune and business to his son, John Pierpont Morgan Jr. Biographer Ron Chernow estimated his fortune at $80 million (equivalent to $1.2 billion in 2019).
Historical Figures and Facts:
Murder of the Century 1906, when socialite Harry Thaw murdered architect Stanford White in the rooftop cabaret atop Madison Square Garden early in the summer of 1906 New York. White's murder was the final act in a long struggle between two fabulously rich, famous and powerful men over Thaw's wife, Evelyn Nexbit, a poor, young and exceptionally beautiful artist's model and showgirl.
Arthur and Anna (Anne) Huntington, founded Brookgreen Gardens near Georgetown, South Carolina, incorporating Brookgreen Plantation, which was started in the late 18th century and was a major antebellum plantation.
Joseph Duveen, 1st Baron Duveen (14 October 1869 – 25 May 1939), known as Sir Joseph Duveen, Bt., between 1927 and 1933, was a British art dealer who was considered one of the most influential art dealers of all time.
Bernard Berenson (June 26, 1865 – October 6, 1959) was an American art historian specializing in the Renaissance. His book Drawings of the Florentine Painters was an international success. His wife Mary is thought to have had a large hand in some of the writings.
Sandro Botticelli, was an Italian painter of the first part of the Late Renaissance.
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| Bernard Berenson |
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Rita Hernandez de Alba de Acosta Stokes Lydig was an American socialite regarded as "the most picturesque woman in America."
Ray Strachey (born Rachel Pearsall Conn Costelloe; 4 June 1887 – 16 July 1940) was a British feminist politician, mathematician, engineer, artist and writer. Daughter of Mary Berenson and step- daughter to Bernard Berenson.
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| Isabella Gardner |
The Woman Suffrage Party (WSP) was a New York city political organization dedicated to women's suffrage. It was founded in New York by Carrie Chapman Catt at the Convention of Disfranchised Women in 1909. Her platform included the assertion that men and women were equal, that it was natural for men and women to cooperate, that laws have tended to restrict women's access to education and full independence, and that it was unlawful to tax women when they had no voice in government.
Angela Isadora Duncan
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Jacques Seligmann was a highly successful antiquarian and art dealer with businesses in both Paris and New York. He was one of the first to foster American interest in building collections of European art. His customers included members of the Russian Stroganoff family, the high-flying British politician Sir Philip Sassoon and American collectors such as Benjamin Altman, William Randolph Hearst, J. P. Morgan, Henry Walters, and Joseph Widener
My Review:
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Robin Miles (also narrated “Just as I Am” by Cicely Tyson), and enjoyed it. This was the March selection for my book club (AAABDG). An historical account of Belle da Costa Greene.
Genevieve, Belles' mother, having to create a Portuguese grandmother to disguise their Black heritage was a covert operation for the entire fate of the family. Teaching was the most common and revered profession for blacks during the time period, Belle’s mother was pro advocate for her becoming a teacher while her father envisioned Belle as a historian or arts scholar. It was her father that laid the groundwork for her career as personal librarian to J.P. Morgan. Belle taught herself Latin, and became very knowledgeable in an exclusively male world of art and rare book dealer.
The chapters are short which makes for faster reading. I had moments of elation, sadness, joy, awe and admiration. I asked myself why was Belle a personal librarian and not titled a curator or dealer of antiquities, paintings, manuscripts and artifacts, and did J.P. Morgan feel about Blacks the same way he felt about Jews? The story takes place in 1905-1948 and follows Belle from city to city and country to country.
Belle’s father sides with the views of Booker T. Washington, regarding his strategies with business owners and politicians and Willie DuBoise, in his views on his plans for the advancement of NAACP, in which mirrored his stance. The comparison between Booker T. Washington and W. E. B. DuBois. This was also mentioned in “A Pair of Wings” by Carole Hopson, in which blacks were siding with the philosophy of one or the other to determine their path of equality. It is a true and honest fact that many blacks owe their light skin to the sexual violence inflicted on enslaved black women by their white masters, and chose to pass as white as the best option to enhance their lifestyle for better housing, better jobs and pay, and equality. It meant estrangement from their families.
I was not particularly pleased with Belle's romance with Berenson (a Lithuanian born Jew) whom harbored secrets of his own, as they were involved in a long term relationship. I was conflicted in whether he was truly in love with Belle or was he using her intellect and insights to gain advantages to his own art dealings.
This novel was written during a pandemic, and racial injustice with the murder of George Floyd in 2021 in which the Civil Rights Act in 1883 that ushered in Jim Crow segregation and gave white supremacy and racial discrimination legal cover, the ramifications of which are felt to this day in 2022. There are still few opportunities open to blacks or anyone classified as nonwhite. As of 2022 we are striving to vote the first African American female Judge in the highest court of the land, the Supreme Court, but with much opposition.
Overall, I learned a lot about the are world, travel to other countries during this era, especially for blacks, the culture during the Guilded Age Era, many historical places and people. I will value this read as a learning experience and highly recommend this book to bibliophiles, art historians, and history buffs. I look forward to doing more research into Belle da Costa Greene's life by reading some of the recommended material: "Am Illuminated Life: Belle da Costa Greene's Journey from Prejudice to Privilege" by Heidi Ardizzone, and "The White Problem" by Belle's father, Richard Greener. The Personal Librarian has been optioned by Al Roker Entertainment (ARE) for a limited series, but no projected date has been set.
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