The Personal Librarian

I just finished reading another historical fiction novel called The Personal Librarian. This story was written by two authors, Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray. The story is based on a real woman named Bella de Costa Greene. Originally her name was Bella Marion Greener. Her father was the first Black graduate of Harvard and his name was Richard Greener. Her father is the one who took her to art museums and got her interested in art history and the history of printing. Her father leaves the family. In the hopes of a better life for her children, her mother changes their last name from Greener to Greene, moves from Washington, D.C. to New York City. Now her mother is a single parent to five children. Her mother decides that she and her family will try to pass as white. This is a risky decision and also the reason the father left the family. Bella is the eldest and she helps support them with her salary. After high school Bella got a job at the library at Princeton. While at Princeton she meets Junius Morgan. He offers to introduce her to his uncle who is looking to hire a personal librarian. Although J.P. Morgan is known for his ferocious temper Bella does not show any fear during the interview. Her answers are sharp, entertaining, and more honest than most of the people speaking to J.P. Morgan. Bella gets the job of personal librarian to the J.P. Morgan library. She is to organize his art and books and to help him acquire more treasures. Bella does an outstanding job. Part of her duties including attending parties, the opera, and art gallery showings with the rich and famous of New York City. Eventually Bella is sent to England to acquire more treasures. She surprises everyone with her skills at negotiation. She is rewarded financially so she is able to move her family into better quarters. Bella's only worry is that someone will look into her background and discover that she is black. I loved this epic story about a truly intelligent and very brave woman.