“I feel like she chose us and we did a good job, and now she’s just sitting there with her arms folded, tapping her foot, waiting for the book to come out.” Once Murray digested this new information, she quickly got in touch with Benedict. Greene’s father was the first Black graduate of Harvard College as well as a professor, diplomat and prominent racial justice activist. She was also a Black woman who passed as white. Morgan’s librarian, a woman named Belle da Costa Greene, was one of the most important librarians in American history. Weeks later, when Murray’s literary agent pestered her to take a closer look at Benedict’s proposal, Murray’s attitude changed. She chuckled, thinking, “The only thing I have in common is a Chase account”-referring to the modern-day banking company with historical ties to Morgan. Murray quickly glanced at the first page of the pitch, which described financier J.P. The award-winning author of more than 20 novels had received a request from historical novelist Marie Benedict to collaborate on a novel. “What has this got to do with me?” wondered Victoria Christopher Murray. Morgan and his librarian, a captivating woman with a big secret. Two beloved novelists shed light on another notable partnership-between J.P.
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