The February 2022 selection for the California Library Book Club will be “The Personal Librarian” by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray.

“A remarkable novel about J. P. Morgan’s personal librarian, Belle da Costa Greene, the Black American woman who was forced to hide her true identity and pass as white in order to leave a lasting legacy that enriched our nation”. In her twenties, Belle da Costa Greene is hired by J. P. Morgan to curate a collection of rare manuscripts, books, and artwork for his newly built Pierpont Morgan Library. Belle becomes a fixture in New York City society 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 create a world-class collection.

There will be two opportunities to discuss the book with other California DAR members on Zoom. The Zoom discussion will be on Wednesday, February 23, 2022, at 10 a.m. and the second meeting at 7 p.m. Sign up for your choice of meeting times by emailing this officer.

Deborah Foley-King, State Librarian
librarian@californiadar.org