The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray

Marie Benedict always does a superb job of research bringing little known women to light and for this story she sought co-author Victoria Christopher Murray to bring the proper perspective of what life would be like for light skinned African American Belle in the all white upper crust society and art world of early 1900's New York. The result is a masterpiece that chronicles the important mark that Belle da Costa Greene made as the Personal Librarian to J.P. Morgan and the acquisitions she made for the Pierpont Morgan Library. With very little real experience but a lifelong passion for fine art, Belle finds herself in a coveted position dodging jealous women and family, art dealers and other collectors and Morgan himself to become a respected and formidable businesswoman and helped bring the collections of the Library to worldwide attention. While one door is open to her allowing her access to the rich and powerful that only a handful of women had, another would be closed forever if her secret was revealed and she could be openly proud of her famous family. A fascinating story of yet another powerful and intelligent woman behind the scenes, this will resonate with fans of her other books as well as LIBERTIE and THE ENGINEER'S WIFE.  4 1/2 stars