The Personal Librarian written by Marie Benedict
BOOK CLUB CHOICE, March 2022
Reviewed by: Terry Lingys
On March 10th, the Pageturners met to discuss “The Personal Librarian” by the New York Times best selling author Marie Benedict. The Personal Librarian is an historical novel, a New York Times bestseller, published in 2021 and written by Marie Benedict in collaboration with Victoria Murray. It is the little-known true story of Belle da Costa Greene (1879-1950), the personal librarian of the famous financier J.P. Morgan. Belle was a librarian at Princeton University when she was hired in 1905 to oversee J.P. Morgan’s world-class collection of rare books and manuscripts, and eventually became the financier’s most trusted confidante.
Belle was African American but “passed” as white because of her olive-skinned complexion. Hiding her true identity during the time of the Jim Crow era, she lived with severe risk of discovery and the resulting anguish. Despite this, she travelled widely, acquiring treasured manuscripts with charm and ruthless bargaining.
This book is the story of an extraordinary woman, famous for her intellect, style, wit and her hidden identity in the racist world of her time. The Pierpont Morgan Library, a.k.a The Morgan Library, in New York City is now a public library, a jewel in the world of rare books and manuscripts.
To have a brief 4 minute tour of the Morgan Library, watch the video below:
At our next meeting on April 14th, Sally Goodwillie will lead the discussion on Five Little Indians by Michelle Good.
Probus Club of Kingsway-Islington 