Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray: The Personal Librarian

Рет қаралды 23,245

3 жыл бұрын

Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray talked to Carol Fitzgerald about their first collaboration, THE PERSONAL LIBRARIAN, which is a New York Times bestseller, a Good Morning America Book Club Selection, and a Bookreporter Bets On pick. Marie, who has been interviewed for “Bookreporter Talks To” previously, is the New York Times bestselling author of novels that include THE OTHER EINSTEIN and LADY CLEMENTINE. She focuses her novels on important historical women who may have been overlooked by the canonical history. Victoria is the winner of Library Journal's Best Book of the Year and has written over 20 novels; this is her first book of historical fiction.
THE PERSONAL LIBRARIAN tells the story of J.P. Morgan's personal librarian, Belle da Costa Greene, who purchased and catalogued his impressive collection of rare and high quality books and artwork. What people did not know is that Belle was a Black woman who passed as white. Her secret was kept hidden, though her father had been the first Black man to graduate from Harvard University. Her complex backstory is as interesting as the collection.
Marie and Victoria share how and why they came together to work on THE PERSONAL LIBRARIAN. They both share their takes on the story, explaining certain aspects of their research that made its way into the story they were trying to tell. And they share what they are up to next, both alone and as collaborators.
Books Discussed in This Episode:
THE PERSONAL LIBRARIAN by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray
www.bookreporter.com/reviews/...
STAND YOUR GROUND by Victoria Christopher Murray
victoriachristophermurray.com...
AN ILLUMINATED LIFE by Heidi Ardizzone
www.amazon.com/Illuminated-Li...
Good Morning America Interview:
www.goodmorningamerica.com/cu...
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Photography Credit: Greg Fitzgerald

Пікірлер: 13

@LynnSavits 2 ай бұрын

Love The Morgan Library so really enjoyed this book.

@edwardb7811 Жыл бұрын

This interview was helpful to the understanding of the book. The two authors working together made a better book.

@terrysweeney3287 Жыл бұрын

This was the book I chose for Bookclub (this Friday); first couple of chapters were difficult for me until I kind of got into the rhythm of the book but thought the subject was fascinating - now I want to visit the JP Morgan Library! Next trip to NYC

@lizmegaw2303 Жыл бұрын

Greatly enjoyed the audio book!!

@abbymoser8996 Жыл бұрын

Outstanding interview and book.

@angelalewis6146 3 жыл бұрын

I loved watching this interview. I can't wait to read this book.

@TheBookReportNetwork 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

@LynnSavits 2 ай бұрын

Yellow Wife outstanding

@MA-yh2ko 2 жыл бұрын

I'm completely fascinated by this story now. What happened to her siblings? Are there any descendants from any of them?

@nehamajacobs9137 2 жыл бұрын

I’ve read three biographies of Bernard Berenson and not one has documented a sexual relationship between Belle and Bernard-despite flirtatious and romantic correspondence. It’s one thing to imagine conversations. But if you are writing a novel based on real people, where do you draw the line between reality and a (spoiler alert) sexual affair. It detracts from her extreme and documented professionalism to imply that with both Morgan and Berenson she used her sexuality. SO: to either or both authors, where is your documentation for the affair, her pregnancy, etc ? And if not, isn’t this over-stepping the bounds of fiction?

@KDumas0312 Жыл бұрын

You clearly did not read the book. It explicitly mentions the affair in the Historical Notes. She even references other books. This nonfiction is brilliant and the affair did not take away from her legacy.

@keepingit763 Жыл бұрын

@@KDumas0312 Was it a sexual affair or just a friendly flirtatious relationship?

@keepingit763 Жыл бұрын

I’m horrified that the Nobel Peace Prize committee hasn’t corrected their mistake and give credit to the correct person who discovered the DNA 🧬 sequence & drawing that is used in modern day science!