La biographie romancée de la bibliothécaire de la Morgan Library, bibliophile érudite, femme la mieux payée de son époque et… à l’origine noire soigneusement cachée. Le destin d’une femme brillante intellectuellement et socialement, le portrait de la haute société américaine, le faste et l’effervescence des premières années du 20e siècle, le bouillonnement des grandes ventes aux enchères. Un roman documenté sans être pédant, romanesque sans être mièvre et un beau portrait de femme forte dont la devise était ”la chance arrive à ceux qui sont préparés à la recevoir”. ( )

The story of Belle Greene is absolutely amazing - a black woman who passed herself and her family off as white serves as the librarian for JP Morgan and his son Jack Morgan building the amazing collection of rare materials for the Morgan Library in NYC. I gave this only 3 plus stars because it is probably too long, too much in detail regarding the rare books and manuscripts that I sometimes skimmed over.

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. ( )