The Personal Librarian
Why I recommend it
This novel tells the story of Belle da Costa Greene, J. P. Morgan’s librarian, and the life she built while passing as white. Her achievements came with painful demands for secrecy.
What stayed with me
Access and success can come at an enormous personal cost. Greene’s story keeps that cost close to her accomplishments.
Who it’s useful for
Historical-fiction readers and people who love books and libraries.
A tension or limitation
The authors imagine thoughts and relationships where the record has gaps. Read it as a novel, not a biography.