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A review by kellyhook_readsbooks
The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict, Victoria Christopher Murray
5.0
THE PERSONAL LIBRARIAN is historical fiction at its finest. Stories of overlooked Black women in history need to be amplified, and my goodness--this novel does it so well. Anchored in facts, the story of Belle da Costa Greene is not to be missed. This woman had moxie.
Belle was a fierce Black woman passing as white in the upper echelons of society during The Gilded Age. As the personal librarian to the famous financer, JP Morgan, Belle curated manuscripts and art for the Pierpont Morgan Library. Although she was the most successful high-powered career woman of her day, the livelihood and safety of her family hinged on upholding her false identity as a white woman.
Belle’s story kept me engaged with elements of secrecy, sacrifice, and betrayal. I loved learning about an intrepid socialite in NYC with everything to lose. She boldly went head to head with the world’s wealthiest men in bidding wars for highly sought-after art, and won.
Written by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray, a white and Black woman respectively, the story feels authentic in its themes of race, identity, and sacrifice. A truly heartfelt author’s note recounts their experience writing this novel during the civil unrest that surfaced in 2020 and the ways in which Belle’s struggles from a century ago remain prevalent. Additionally, Victoria Christopher Murray brings her personal family history to the novel; her own Grandmother passed as a white woman when necessary.
I can’t say enough about this book. If you enjoyed the Vanishing Half, or true stories of resolutely fearless women don’t miss The Personal Librarian!
RATING: 5/5 stars
AVAILABLE: June 29, 2021
A big thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Pub for an electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#ThePersonalLibrarian #MarieBenedict #VictoriaChristopherMurray
Belle was a fierce Black woman passing as white in the upper echelons of society during The Gilded Age. As the personal librarian to the famous financer, JP Morgan, Belle curated manuscripts and art for the Pierpont Morgan Library. Although she was the most successful high-powered career woman of her day, the livelihood and safety of her family hinged on upholding her false identity as a white woman.
Belle’s story kept me engaged with elements of secrecy, sacrifice, and betrayal. I loved learning about an intrepid socialite in NYC with everything to lose. She boldly went head to head with the world’s wealthiest men in bidding wars for highly sought-after art, and won.
Written by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray, a white and Black woman respectively, the story feels authentic in its themes of race, identity, and sacrifice. A truly heartfelt author’s note recounts their experience writing this novel during the civil unrest that surfaced in 2020 and the ways in which Belle’s struggles from a century ago remain prevalent. Additionally, Victoria Christopher Murray brings her personal family history to the novel; her own Grandmother passed as a white woman when necessary.
I can’t say enough about this book. If you enjoyed the Vanishing Half, or true stories of resolutely fearless women don’t miss The Personal Librarian!
RATING: 5/5 stars
AVAILABLE: June 29, 2021
A big thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Pub for an electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#ThePersonalLibrarian #MarieBenedict #VictoriaChristopherMurray