Description
Based on the true story of Belle da Costa Greene, a woman who defied all odds to carve out a destiny of her own choosing, this is a richly imagined novel bursting with atmosphere, lush period detail, and many unforgettable characters. New York in the 1900s. A young girl fascinated by rare books defies all odds and becomes the director of one of the country's most prestigious private libraries. It belongs to the magnate J. P. Morgan,darling of the international aristocracy and one of the city's richest men. Flamboyant, brilliant, beautiful, Belle is among New York society's most sought after intellectuals. She also hides a secret. Although she looks white, she is African American, the daughter of a famous black activist who sees her desire to hide her origins as the consummate betrayal. Torn between history's ineluctable imperatives and the freedom to belong to the society of her choosing, Belle's drama, which plays out in a violently racist America, is one that resonates forcefully, and illuminatingly even today. The fruit of years of research and interviews, Alexandra Lapierre's magnificent novel recounts the struggles, victories, and heartbreaks of a woman who is free, astonishingly determined, daring, and fully, exuberantly alive.… (more)
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Belle Greene's father was Richard Greener, the first black man to graduate from Harvard. He left his wife and children (girls and one son) very suddenly. This provided them the opportunity to move from Washington DC, drop the final "r" from their name and assume new identities as white. They claimed to be Portuguese aristocracy with the name of da Costa Greene. Belle takes a job at the Princeton library where she meets Junius Morgan, a nephew of JP Morgan. She and Junius become fast friends and he acts as a mentor to her. From there on she climbs the social and academic latter.
For years, Belle Greene and her family are able to maintain this family secret even promising never to marry and have children, least the child carry Black characteristics. Her sister does however marry and have a child who Belle assumes responsibility. Robert Leverage grows up believing he is fully white and has a career as a pilot in the service. When he becomes engaged to a young woman, her family hires a private detective to uncover the past leading to the disastrous suicide of Robert.
Belle's life was exciting and filled with many lovers and travels to Europe. Her influence on the Morgan Library is beyond compare; always believing that rare documents and manuscripts should be available to researchers and not locked up where no one can study them. She lead an amazing life. And what a completely sad and appalling story of the hate and prejudice of the family that caused Robert's death.
Good information to know, the book is just a bit too long and too involved but certainly well researched - great respect for the author.