by Hollie Nielsen, AWC Central Scotland
In June, the Ed Team is thinking about libraries and their importance for literacy and education. I read The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray. The book’s protagonist, Belle da Costa Greene, was the real life personal librarian for J.P. Morgan. She helped him build one of the world’s finest collections of illuminated manuscripts and early printed books. One of their goals was to preserve and make available to the general public some of the earliest examples of printed books – the very books that made written works more widely available and thus improved literacy and education standards. In this historical fiction book, we also see Belle grappling with her decision to pass as white although she was African American. She must protect her secret because the racist world in which she lived would never permit an African American woman to inhabit such a high circle in society or to run such a prestigious library. The authors dwell a bit too much on Belle’s one great love affair, but the rumours of an affair with J.P. Morgan are handled realistically.If you are interested in illuminated manuscripts and the impact of the invention of the printing press, The Bookseller of Florence by Ross King gives a lengthy but interesting description of Florence from about 1430–1500. The printers Sweynheym and Pannartz, mentioned at the beginning of The Personal Librarian, feature prominently in Ross King’s book. In addition, you may also be interested in the Women’s Prize for Fiction short-listed The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett. It is a well-written story about identical Black twins, one of whom decides to pass as white. The twins become separated, as the one who is passing for white completely disowns her family. This complete rejection of family causes much pain to the twin who retains her Black identity, much as Belle’s passing as white causes a rupture with her dearly beloved father.
Photo by Hollie Nielsen
