The Man Who Loved Books Too Much: The True Story of a Thief, a Detective, and a World of Literary Obsession - Hardcover

9781594488917: The Man Who Loved Books Too Much: The True Story of a Thief, a Detective, and a World of Literary Obsession
View all copies of this ISBN edition:
 
 
In the tradition of The Orchid Thief, a compelling narrative set within the strange and genteel world of rare-book collecting: the true story of an infamous book thief, his victims, and the man determined to catch him.

Rare-book theft is even more widespread than fine-art theft. Most thieves, of course, steal for profit. John Charles Gilkey steals purely for the love of books. In an attempt to understand him better, journalist Allison Hoover Bartlett plunged herself into the world of book lust and discovered just how dangerous it can be.

Gilkey is an obsessed, unrepentant book thief who has stolen hundreds of thousands of dollars? worth of rare books from book fairs, stores, and libraries around the country. Ken Sanders is the self-appointed ?bibliodick? (book dealer with a penchant for detective work) driven to catch him. Bartlett befriended both outlandish characters and found herself caught in the middle of efforts to recover hidden treasure. With a mixture of suspense, insight, and humor, she has woven this entertaining cat-and-mouse chase into a narrative that not only reveals exactly how Gilkey pulled off his dirtiest crimes, where he stashed the loot, and how Sanders ultimately caught him but also explores the romance of books, the lure to collect them, and the temptation to steal them. Immersing the reader in a rich, wide world of literary obsession, Bartlett looks at the history of book passion, collection, and theft through the ages, to examine the craving that makes some people willing to stop at nothing to possess the books they love.

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

From the Back Cover:
John Charles Gilkey is an obsessed, unrepentant book thief who has stolen hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of rare books from book fairs, stores, and libraries around the country. Ken Sanders is the self-appointed bibliodick (book dealer with a penchant for detective work) driven to catch him. Journalist Allison Hoover Bartlett befriended both eccentric characters and found herself caught in the middle of efforts to recover hidden treasure. With a mixture of suspense, insight, and humor, she not only reveals exactly how Gilkey pulled off his dirtiest crimes and how Sanders ultimately caught him, but also explores the romance of books, the lure to collect them, and the temptation to steal them. Immersing the listener in a rich, wide world of literary obsession, Bartlett looks at the history of book passion, collection, and theft through the ages, to examine the craving that makes some people willing to stop at nothing to possess the books they love.
About the Author:
Allison Hoover Bartlett's writing has appeared in the New York Times, the Washington Post, the San Francisco Chronicle Magazine, and other publications. Her original article on John Gilkey was included in The Best American Crime Reporting 2007.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

  • PublisherRiverhead Books
  • Publication date2009
  • ISBN 10 1594488916
  • ISBN 13 9781594488917
  • BindingHardcover
  • Edition number1
  • Number of pages288
  • Rating

Other Popular Editions of the Same Title

9781594484810: The Man Who Loved Books Too Much: The True Story of a Thief, a Detective, and a World of Literary Obsession

Featured Edition

ISBN 10:  1594484813 ISBN 13:  9781594484810
Publisher: Riverhead Books, 2010
Softcover

  • 9780670067992: The Man Who Loved Books Too Much: The True Story Of A Thief, A Detective And A World Of Literary Obsession

    Viking, 2009
    Hardcover

  • 9780143168249: The Man Who Loved Books Too Much: The True Story Of A Thief, A Detective And A World Of Literary Obsession

    Pengui..., 2010
    Softcover

  • 9781410423320: The Man Who Loved Books Too Much: The True Story of a Thief, a Detective, and a World of Literary Obsession

    Thornd..., 2010
    Hardcover

Top Search Results from the AbeBooks Marketplace

Stock Image

Bartlett, Allison Hoover
Published by Riverhead Books (2009)
ISBN 10: 1594488916 ISBN 13: 9781594488917
New Hardcover Quantity: 1
Seller:
GoldenWavesOfBooks
(Fayetteville, TX, U.S.A.)

Book Description Hardcover. Condition: new. New. Fast Shipping and good customer service. Seller Inventory # Holz_New_1594488916

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy New
US$ 21.44
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: US$ 4.00
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Stock Image

Bartlett, Allison Hoover
Published by Riverhead Books (2009)
ISBN 10: 1594488916 ISBN 13: 9781594488917
New Hardcover Quantity: 1
Seller:
GoldenDragon
(Houston, TX, U.S.A.)

Book Description Hardcover. Condition: new. Buy for Great customer experience. Seller Inventory # GoldenDragon1594488916

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy New
US$ 24.69
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: US$ 3.25
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Stock Image

Bartlett, Allison Hoover
Published by Riverhead Books (2009)
ISBN 10: 1594488916 ISBN 13: 9781594488917
New Hardcover Quantity: 1
Seller:
Wizard Books
(Long Beach, CA, U.S.A.)

Book Description Hardcover. Condition: new. New. Seller Inventory # Wizard1594488916

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy New
US$ 26.90
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: US$ 3.50
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Stock Image

Bartlett, Allison Hoover
Published by Riverhead Books (2009)
ISBN 10: 1594488916 ISBN 13: 9781594488917
New Hardcover Quantity: 1
Seller:
GoldBooks
(Denver, CO, U.S.A.)

Book Description Hardcover. Condition: new. New Copy. Customer Service Guaranteed. Seller Inventory # think1594488916

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy New
US$ 27.07
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: US$ 4.25
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Stock Image

Bartlett, Allison Hoover
Published by Riverhead Books (2009)
ISBN 10: 1594488916 ISBN 13: 9781594488917
New Hardcover Quantity: 1
Seller:
Front Cover Books
(Denver, CO, U.S.A.)

Book Description Condition: new. Seller Inventory # FrontCover1594488916

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy New
US$ 55.52
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: US$ 4.30
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Stock Image

Bartlett, Allison Hoover
Published by Riverhead Books (2009)
ISBN 10: 1594488916 ISBN 13: 9781594488917
New Hardcover Quantity: 1
Seller:
BennettBooksLtd
(North Las Vegas, NV, U.S.A.)

Book Description Condition: New. New. In shrink wrap. Looks like an interesting title! 0.9. Seller Inventory # Q-1594488916

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy New
US$ 57.94
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: US$ 4.13
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Stock Image

Bartlett, Allison Hoover
Published by Riverhead Books (2009)
ISBN 10: 1594488916 ISBN 13: 9781594488917
New Hardcover First Edition Quantity: 1
Seller:
Pieuler Store
(Suffolk, United Kingdom)

Book Description Condition: new. First Edition. Book is in NEW condition. Satisfaction Guaranteed! Fast Customer Service!!. Seller Inventory # PSN1594488916

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy New
US$ 56.81
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: US$ 31.26
From United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds