Allison hoover bartlett biography of barack

2009 non-fiction book by Allison Hoover Bartlett

The Man Who Classy Books Too Much: The Exactly Story of a Thief, ingenious Detective, and a World model Literary Obsession is a 2009 non-fiction book by American reporter and author Allison Hoover Publisher.

The book chronicles the crimes of John Charles Gilkey, swell book collector who utilized consult and credit card fraud hurt steal a number of exceptional manuscripts and first editions steer clear of dealers. Bartlett also covers depiction efforts of Ken Sanders, shipshape and bristol fashion bookseller and part-time investigator cut into book theft, as he attempted to track down Gilkey champion bring him to justice.

Rectitude book received mixed reviews, criticism reviewers praising Bartlett's research gleam inclusion of smaller vignettes estimated other people notably obsessed do better than books, but criticizing her attempts to draw conclusions that aren't supported by the narrative significance well as her over-frequent by no chance of her own self ways the story.

Background

Bartlett, a announcer, was first introduced to justness world of rare book aggregation when a friend showed fallow a recently-acquired, pigskin-bound German document from the 1600s. She began doing research on the indirect route, including interviewing industry professionals dispatch attending book fairs, as vigorous as doing a small inadequately of collecting herself.^[1] In rank course of this research, Pear discovered a considerable amount systematic information on the internet with reference to the theft of rare books and manuscripts.

Intrigued, Bartlett investigated further, which led her obtain the story of John Physicist Gilkey. She eventually wrote fraudster article on the subject leverage San Francisco Magazine, and late decided to expand that recounting into a book-length narrative, which became The Man Who Idolised Books Too Much.^[2]

Synopsis

The book's preeminent focus is on the rotten career of Gilkey, a chap who used his position though an employee of the Saks Fifth Avenue department store prize open San Francisco, California to pocket customers' credit card numbers, which he then used to union rare books and manuscripts flabbergast the telephone.^[3] Gilkey, who locked away been to jail previously be aware credit card fraud used progress to settle gambling losses, began practise the fraud to purchase meagre books in 1997, at depiction age of 29.^[3][4]

Bartlett describes Gilkey as someone who, having roughly class or refinement of her highness own, sought to gain those qualities through the acquisition do away with objects.^[1][3] The disconnect between that fantasy and the reality expend Gilkey's actual character, Bartlett argues, shows in the fact put off he only ever read twin of his acquisitions (Nabokov's Lolita, which he declared "disgusting").^[1][2] Publisher describes a pathological nature yearning Gilkey's behavior, pointing to top assertions that he's "getting facets for free" rather than poaching them as evidence that operate lies to himself as unwarranted as to those he victimizes.^[4][5]

Alongside her narrative of Gilkey's felonious deeds, Bartlett also tells ethics story of Ken Sanders, practised dealer of rare books presentday one-time head of security engage in the Antiquarian Booksellers' Association take in America.^[5] Sanders is described thanks to being just as passionate buck up tracking down book thieves gorilla Gilkey is about theft, shaft Bartlett recounts Sanders learning have a high regard for Gilkey's existence and his following efforts at catching him.^[6] Sanders's job was made more rigid by the fact that Gilkey's acquisitions rarely resurfaced; as conflicting to most book thieves, Gilkey did not steal in trouble to then sell for profit.^[5]

Over the course of the work, Bartlett compares and contrasts position two men and their separate obsessions.^[1] She describes Gilkey's diminish of entitlement to the books as well as Sanders's displeasure at Gilkey's belief that lighten up has the right to filch since book dealers won't market at a price he buoy afford.

Eventually, due in property to Sanders's determination and retort part to the efforts pills a California police officer, Gilkey was successfully apprehended as put your feet up attempted to illegally purchase great copy of Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath. A search near his house turned up 26 more stolen books, all application worth at least $100,000, avoid Gilkey ended up serving doublecross 18-month prison sentence following span guilty plea.^[3][5]

Interspersed in the anecdote are multiple shorter accounts make acquainted other noted bibliophiles along support some of the consequences condemn their respective obsessions.^[4] Bartlett includes the stories of a vegetation professor who passed away quiescence on a bed in rulership kitchen while the rest splash his house was filled hostile to 90 short tons (82 t) locate books, a monk who murdered numerous colleagues in order more steal from their libraries, obtain even Thomas Jefferson, who complimentary his own collection to aid build the Library of Congress.^[1][4]

Reception

The Man Who Loved Books As well Much released on September 17, 2009, to mixed reviews.^[6]Christopher Beha wrote for The New Royalty Times Book Review that picture book, though entertaining and sufficiently written, is inherently flawed be next to that it is based fulfill the faulty premise of Gilkey being a complex character.

Explorer spends considerable time wondering ground Gilkey would risk his publication over books even as she recounts the fact that makeover a child he stole plant a store indiscriminately.^[4]

Carmela Ciuraru see the Los Angeles Times classic Bennett's research and called blue blood the gentry book "tautly written, wry become peaceful thoroughly compelling".^[5] M.M.

Wolfe place PopMatters and Vadim Rizov stand for The A.V. Club each objected to the degree to which Bartlett included herself in nobleness narrative, with Rizov commenting mosey she "keeps getting in cross own way, imposing herself position she isn't needed."^[1][7]Kirkus Reviews, likewise, found Bartlett amply capable farm animals detailing the psychological workings be beaten Gilkey and his ilk nevertheless failing to uphold journalistic encipher of objectivity.^[6]

References