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Carregando... The Personal Librarian (original: 2021; edição: 2021)de Marie Benedict (Autor), Victoria Christopher Murray (Autor)
Informações da ObraThe Personal Librarian de Marie Benedict (2021)
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Registre-se no LibraryThing tpara descobrir se gostará deste livro. Ainda não há conversas na Discussão sobre este livro. Two authors wrote this historical novel, and it feels like it. Chapters vary wildly from one to the next and all too many of them have historical facts awkwardly shoved in, as if to prove that they did their research. Although there was a compelling figure behind this novel, the book itself is not compelling. ( ) A fascinating novel woven around the facts of the life of a woman in early 20th century America as she grew up living the life of a white female but she and her family being of coloured background. Her achievements in gaining an education and subsequently becoming the librarian of a private collection of art and historical manuscripts owned by wealth businessman J.P. Morgan was very well written with the two authors exploring her challenges, dreams and achievements across the decades. Book on CD narrated by Robin Miles As she has done with other women “lost in history,” Benedict shines a light on a little-recognized woman who had enormous influence on American culture. Belle da Costa Greene was J P Morgan’s “personal librarian,” tasked with curating and expanding his collection of rare manuscripts, books and art works, especially those dating from the Renaissance. As his librarian, Greene was required to attend auctions and society balls as a means of becoming friendly and known in the rarified world of high-stakes art collecting. Her success at beating the “boys at their game” was celebrated in news articles on both sides of the Atlantic. So, she was hardly “lost in history.” But … what no one knew was that Greene was born Belle Marion Greener, the daughter of African American parents. I found this a very interesting look at America in the Gilded Age. I was unaware of the early Equal Rights Act (enacted just at the end of the Civil War), and how it was defeated after offering such promise. It’s no wonder that Belle’s parents left the south for New York and greater opportunity for themselves and their children. The difference in approach between Mr and Mrs Greener was also interesting to me; while she made the decision to register the family as white in the census, her husband embraced his role as a leader in equal rights, fighting AS a black man and was incensed by her decision. I did get pretty tired of the authors constantly reminding me of the high stakes for Belle and her family if her true identity as a black woman was discovered. I got the first time, or certainly by the third time. I didn’t really need a reminder in virtually every chapter! I’m glad that Benedict partnered with Victoria Christopher Murray, an African American author, for this work. I wonder why Benedict’s name came first on the cover, though. Robin Miles does a fine job of performing the audio version. She has clear diction and sufficiently differentiates the characters, so I wasn’t confused about who was speaking. Belle de Costa Greene is hired as a personal librarian/curator to build the collection of the Pierpoint Morgan Library for J.P. Morgan. Her secret is that she is African American, but passes as white. She explains her olive coloring as "Portuguese." She becomes quite successful in securing rare manuscripts for a very grumpy and demanding Morgan, while hiding her secret for everyone.
Both a stunning tribute to an amazingly courageous woman and a searingly timely exploration of race relations in America, The Personal Librarian is an extraordinary novel that will have you frantically googling the key figures to learn more. I won’t be ready to part with Belle and her contemporaries for a long time after finishing this one. Kept me intrigued, fascinated, and mesmerized throughout….Everyone should know about the woman who took risks, carved her own path, silenced the naysayers, and forged ahead to becoming one of America’s most prominent librarians in history. Definitely a must-read. Every element of this blockbuster historical novel is compelling and revelatory, beginning with the bedazzling protagonist based with awestruck care on Belle da Costa Greene… a novel of enthralling drama, humor, sensuality, and insight. … [a] resounding tale of a brilliant and resilient woman defying sexism, classism, and racism during the brutality of Jim Crow. Benedict and Murray do splendidly right by Belle in this captivating and profoundly enlightening portrayal. A powerful take on the accomplishments of J.P. Morgan’s librarian…. Benedict and Murray do a great job capturing Belle’s passion and tenacity as she carves a place for herself in a racist male-dominated society. This does fine justice to a remarkable historical figure. This fictional account of Greene’s life feels authentic; the authors bring to life not only Belle but all those around her. An excellent piece of historical fiction that many readers will find hard to put down. DistinctionsNotable Lists
"The remarkable, little-known story of Belle da Costa Greene, J. P. Morgan's personal librarian-who became one of the most powerful women in New York despite the dangerous secret she kept in order to make her dreams come true, from New York Times bestselling author Marie Benedict and acclaimed author Victoria Christopher Murray. In her twenties, Belle da Costa Greene is hired by J. Pierpont Morgan to curate a collection of rare manuscripts, books, and artwork for his newly built Morgan Library. Belle becomes a fixture on the New York society scene 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 build 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 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-for the protection of her family and her legacy-to preserve her carefully crafted white identity in the racist world in which she lives"-- Não foram encontradas descrições de bibliotecas. |
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Google Books — Carregando... GênerosClassificação decimal de Dewey (CDD)813.6Literature English (North America) American fiction 21st CenturyClassificação da Biblioteca do Congresso dos E.U.A. (LCC)AvaliaçãoMédia:
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