The Personal Librarian

Marie Benedict deals with racism in our historic past, as she explores the life of J.P. Morgan's personal book collector and librarian who  hid her identity as a black woman to get the job. His indominitable spirit shines through in this work, as does her ability to control his temper and purchase the items he desires as any cost. She has to change her name to Bella la Costa Greene, an exotic French name to live and work amongst those in high society, to keep a job that was the sole source of income for her entire family. At the same time, she is the daughter of Richard Greener, the first black graduate of Harvard and a well-known advocate for equality. Living in two worlds, she negotiates both so she is successful.