the personal librarian by marie benedict summary

Of note, the Morgan Library & Museum website says that Greene’s parentage was known to few people outside her family during her adult life, though some suspected that she was of African American descent. The museum will present an exhibition devoted to the life and career of Belle da Costa Greene in the Fall of 2024.

As the only substantial collection of personal papers related to Belle Greene in existence, this collection is critical to understanding much personally and professionally of Greene as well as how the library’s collection was built. The video talks about the background of The Belle Greene-Bernard Letters Project which will transcribe over 600 letters that Belle Greene wrote to Bernard Berenson. The Morgan Library & Museum has extensive historical information on Belle da Costa Greene, including a 4 minute film on youTube on one of history’s greatest librarians, which shares beautiful photos of individuals who come to life in the novel and well as views of the library. After all, Belle da Costa Greene was a librarian and libraries tend to be meticulous in their documentation. There are phenomenal historical resources online to visit as an accompaniment to The Personal Librarian. I recommend reading the book before the guide. Note that this guide, like all of the guides, may contain spoilers. As I read this captivating novel, I felt the librarian’s vivacious personality alongside the fear and disconnectedness she may have felt in passing as white. Together the authors, Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray, have written a well-researched novel featuring Belle da Costa Green and her skill in creating an outstanding literary collection and making it publicly available. At the same time it is so present- themes of relationships and access and power remain universal today. And even more so if you are interested in the gilded age in New York or art and book history. From passing, power and access in our society to the value of books and libraries to the multi-dimensionality of relationships, The Personal Librarian, is an outstanding historical novel for a book discussion.

The personal librarian by marie benedict summary