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The Personal Librarian

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The Personal Librarian

By: Marie Benedict, Victoria Christopher Murray
Narrated by: Robin Miles
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About this listen

 Over one million copies sold!

The Instant New York Times Bestseller! A Good Morning America* Book Club Pick!

Named a Best Book of the Year by NPR! Named a Notable Book of the Year by the Washington Post!

“Historical fiction at its best!”*

A remarkable novel about J. P. Morgan’s personal librarian, Belle da Costa Greene, the Black American woman who was forced to hide her true identity and pass as white in order to leave a lasting legacy that enriched our nation, from New York Times bestselling authors Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray.

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.

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. African American Biographical Fiction Fiction Genre Fiction Biography Equality

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All stars
Most relevant
amazing story best book ever ❤️ I hope they make a film about bells story

personal librarian

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Thank you dear authors. It’s written beautifully and I am going to read more on Belle and her life.

Amazing book

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This audiobook was excellently written and narrated. Would recommend to everyone, could not put it down.

Loved this book

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The book was a bit slow in some parts, sometimes repetetive in it's narrative, but as a caucasian from a small European country, I don't know much about the segregation period in America and the struggles of african american people in that period, so it was very eye-opening and horrifying to know more about the life of black women in that period and I was awed with the strengh and tenacity of miss Belle da Costa Greene.

Enlightening and magnificent!

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I did like the book and the reader but wasn't sure if a fictional book about a real person was my thing in the end because every now and then I stopped to wonder if something like had really happened or not. The authors seemed to have done their research very well and it did seem like I was reading Belle's words. Interesting person, interesting life and time and place to live.

Well written and read biofiction

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