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An Illuminated Life
Belle Da Costa Greene's Journey from Prejudice to Privilege
New York : W.W. Norton & Co., [2007]
Format: Book
Edition: 1st edition.
Description: 580 pages, 32 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations ; 25 cm
The secret life of the sensational woman behind the Morgan masterpieces, who lit up New York society. What would you give up to achieve your dream? When J.P. Morgan hired Belle da Costa Greene in 1905 to organize his rare book and manuscript collection, she had only her personality and a few years of experience to recommend her. Ten years later, she had shaped the famous Pierpont Morgan Library collection and was a celebrity in New York and the art world, renowned for her self-made expertise, her acerbic wit, and her flirtatious relationships. Born to a family of people of color, Greene changed her name and invented a Portuguese grandmother to enter white society. In her new world, she dined at the tables of the highest society and with bohemian artists and activists, and engaged in a decades-long affair with art critic Bernard Berenson.-- Provided by publisher.
Contents:
Raised expectations -- Gilded dreams in New York -- Princeton: early influences -- Belle Greene, girl librarian -- A turn in the road -- The whirl in which I live -- Bella Italia -- Hiding in the light -- A modern woman -- Crossroads -- Battlefields -- Lady directress -- A woman of a certain age -- Shining through the darkness -- Epilogue: the passing of Belle Greene.
Subjects:
Greene, Belle da Costa.
Berenson, Bernard, 1865-1959 -- Friends and associates.
Pierpont Morgan Library -- History.
African American librarians -- New York (State) -- New York -- Biography.
Women library administrators -- New York (State) -- New York -- Biography.
Manuscripts -- Collectors and collecting -- New York (State) -- New York -- History.
Art -- Collectors and collecting -- New York (State) -- New York -- History.
Passing (Identity) -- United States -- Case studies.
Greene, Belle da Costa.
Berenson, Bernard, 1865-1959 -- Friends and associates.
Pierpont Morgan Library -- History.
African American librarians -- New York (State) -- New York -- Biography.
Women library administrators -- New York (State) -- New York -- Biography.
Manuscripts -- Collectors and collecting -- New York (State) -- New York -- History.
Art -- Collectors and collecting -- New York (State) -- New York -- History.
Passing (Identity) -- United States -- Case studies.
ISBN:
9780393051049
Availability | |||
---|---|---|---|
Call Number | Location | Shelf Location | Status |
BIOGRAPHY Greene, Belle da Costa | Main (Downtown) | Third Level, Biography | In |
Includes bibliographical references (pages 543-547) and index.