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The Man Who Loved Books Too Much: The True Story of a Thief, a Detective, and...
by Bartlett, Allison Hoover | HC | Good
US $4.58
ApproximatelyAU $7.04
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“Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, ”... Read moreabout condition
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Estimated between Wed, 20 Aug and Mon, 25 Aug to 94104
Located in: Aurora, Illinois, United States
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eBay item number:373605384747
Item specifics
- Seller notes
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Publication Year
- 2009
- Book Title
- The Man Who Loved Books Too Much
- Weight
- 0 lbs
- Product Group
- Book
- IsTextBook
- No
- Format
- roughcut
- ISBN
- 1594488916
About this product
Product Identifiers
Publisher
Penguin Publishing Group
ISBN-10
1594488916
ISBN-13
9781594488917
eBay Product ID (ePID)
72408328
Product Key Features
Language
English
Topic
Criminals & Outlaws, Books, Books & Reading, Criminology, Literary Criticism, Social Science, Biography & Autobiography, Antiques & Collectibles
Illustrator
Yes
Dimensions
Item Length
3.4 In.
Item Height
0.4 In.
Item Width
5.7 In.
Item Weight
14.1 Oz
Additional Product Features
LCCN
2009-021324
TitleLeading
The
Book Title
Man Who Loved Books Too Much : The True Story of a Thief, a Detective, and a World of Literary Obsession
Grade From
Twelfth Grade
Grade To
UP
Dewey Decimal
002.075 B
Intended Audience
Trade
Synopsis
Rare book theft is even more widespread that fine art theft. Most thieves, of course, steal for profit - but John Charles Gilkey stole 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. Immersing the reader in the 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 stop at nothing to possess the books they love., 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.
Publication Year
2009
Dewey Edition
22
Reviews
In this great read about the collector’s obsession gone wrong, Ms. Bartlett gives us fascinating glimpses of the rare book world, the criminal mind and the limits of journalistic involvement. Anyone who has trouble passing a used bookstore without going in will love this book.” —Lynn H. Nicholas, author of The Rape of Europa Hats off to Allison Bartlett for a splendid contribution to the literature of bibliophilia/bibliomania, the John Gilkey–Ken ‘bibliodick’ Sanders story is one that cried out to be told, and she has accomplished it with style and substance. Very nicely done.” —Nicholas A. Basbanes, author of A Gentle Madness A fascinating journey into a strange, obsessive world where a love for books can sometimes become a fatal attraction.” —Simon Worrall, author of The Poet and the Murderer John Gilkey wanted to own a rich-man’s library in the worst way, and was soon acquiring expensive first editions in the very worst way of all: theft. Allison Hoover Bartlett’s The Man Who Loved Books Too Much” is the enthralling account of a gently mad con artist and his fraudulent credit-card scams, but it’s also a meditation on the urge to collect and a terrific introduction to the close-knit, swashbuckling world of antiquarian book dealers.” —Michael Dirda, Pulitzer Prize–winning critic and author of Classics for Pleasureand the memoir An Open Book Allison Hoover Bartlett has written a meticulous and fascinating book about a serial bookthief and the persistent sleuth who dogged him for years and finally caught him. It will be especially gripping for those of us who trade in antiquarian books, who owe much to Ken Sanders’s persistence. A fine read.” —Larry McMurtry, bestselling author of Books: A Memoirand the Pulitzer Prize–winning Lonesome Dove With its brilliantly observed details, wry humor, and thrilling plot twists, Bartlett’s narrative drew me deep into the obsessive world of a book thief and the dealer determined to stop him. It’s a captivating cat-and-mouse game and a fascinating exploration of why people are so passionate about books. If you liked The Orchid Thief, you’re going to love The Man Who Loved Books Too Much.” —Julia Flynn Siler, author of The House of Mondavi Bartlett’s tale of literary intrigue makes you fall in love with books all over again. From her fascinating descriptions of prized manuscripts to her profile of a man who took an obsession too far, her story will leave you hankering to read more. ” —Julia Scheeres, author of Jesus Land As a rule I approach unsolicited galleys with the same degree of delight that I reserve for root canals. This book surprised me. I read the first paragraph and was drawn in, not so much by the subject matter as by the author's cozy, quiet style, evocative of the work of Dava Sobel and Janet Malcolm. I found the narrative compelling, and I loved the inside stories about old books.” —Erik Larson, bestselling author of The Devil and the White City, "In this great read about the collector's obsession gone wrong, Ms. Bartlett gives us fascinating glimpses of the rare book world, the criminal mind and the limits of journalistic involvement. Anyone who has trouble passing a used bookstore without going in will love this book." - Lynn H. Nicholas, author of The Rape of Europa "Hats off to Allison Bartlett for a splendid contribution to the literature of bibliophilia/bibliomania, the John Gilkey-Ken 'bibliodick' Sanders story is one that cried out to be told, and she has accomplished it with style and substance. Very nicely done." - Nicholas A. Basbanes, author of A Gentle Madness "A fascinating journey into a strange, obsessive world where a love for books can sometimes become a fatal attraction." - Simon Worrall, author of The Poet and the Murderer "John Gilkey wanted to own a rich-man's library in the worst way, and was soon acquiring expensive first editions in the very worst way of all: theft. Allison Hoover Bartlett's "The Man Who Loved Books Too Much" is the enthralling account of a gently mad con artist and his fraudulent credit-card scams, but it's also a meditation on the urge to collect and a terrific introduction to the close-knit, swashbuckling world of antiquarian book dealers." - Michael Dirda, Pulitzer Prize-winning critic and author of Classics for Pleasure and the memoir An Open Book "Allison Hoover Bartlett has written a meticulous and fascinating book about a serial bookthief and the persistent sleuth who dogged him for years and finally caught him. It will be especially gripping for those of us who trade in antiquarian books, who owe much to Ken Sanders's persistence. A fine read." - Larry McMurtry, bestselling author of Books: A Memoir and the Pulitzer Prize-winning Lonesome Dove "With its brilliantly observed details, wry humor, and thrilling plot twists, Bartlett's narrative drew me deep into the obsessive world of a book thief and the dealer determined to stop him. It's a captivating cat-and-mouse game and a fascinating exploration of why people are so passionate about books. If you liked The Orchid Thief , you're going to love The Man Who Loved Books Too Much ." - Julia Flynn Siler, author of The House of Mondavi "Bartlett's tale of literary intrigue makes you fall in love with books all over again. From her fascinating descriptions of prized manuscripts to her profile of a man who took an obsession too far, her story will leave you hankering to read more. " - Julia Scheeres, author of Jesus Land "As a rule I approach unsolicited galleys with the same degree of delight that I reserve for root canals. This book surprised me. I read the first paragraph and was drawn in, not so much by the subject matter as by the author's cozy, quiet style, evocative of the work of Dava Sobel and Janet Malcolm. I found the narrative compelling, and I loved the inside stories about old books." -Erik Larson, bestselling author of The Devil and the White City, "In this great read about the collector's obsession gone wrong, Ms. Bartlett gives us fascinating glimpses of the rare book world, the criminal mind and the limits of journalistic involvement. Anyone who has trouble passing a used bookstore without going in will love this book." -- Lynn H. Nicholas, author of The Rape of Europa "Hats off to Allison Bartlett for a splendid contribution to the literature of bibliophilia/bibliomania, the John Gilkey-Ken 'bibliodick' Sanders story is one that cried out to be told, and she has accomplished it with style and substance. Very nicely done." -- Nicholas A. Basbanes, author of A Gentle Madness "A fascinating journey into a strange, obsessive world where a love for books can sometimes become a fatal attraction." -- Simon Worrall, author of The Poet and the Murderer "John Gilkey wanted to own a rich-man's library in the worst way, and was soon acquiring expensive first editions in the very worst way of all: theft. Allison Hoover Bartlett's "The Man Who Loved Books Too Much" is the enthralling account of a gently mad con artist and his fraudulent credit-card scams, but it's also a meditation on the urge to collect and a terrific introduction to the close-knit, swashbuckling world of antiquarian book dealers." -- Michael Dirda, Pulitzer Prize-winning critic and author of Classics for Pleasure and the memoir An Open Book "Allison Hoover Bartlett has written a meticulous and fascinating book about a serial bookthief and the persistent sleuth who dogged him for years and finally caught him. It will be especially gripping for those of us who trade in antiquarian books, who owe much to Ken Sanders's persistence. A fine read." -- Larry McMurtry, bestselling author of Books: A Memoir and the Pulitzer Prize-winning Lonesome Dove "With its brilliantly observed details, wry humor, and thrilling plot twists, Bartlett's narrative drew me deep into the obsessive world of a book thief and the dealer determined to stop him. It's a captivating cat-and-mouse game and a fascinating exploration of why people are so passionate about books. If you liked The Orchid Thief , you're going to love The Man Who Loved Books Too Much ." -- Julia Flynn Siler, author of The House of Mondavi "Bartlett's tale of literary intrigue makes you fall in love with books all over again. From her fascinating descriptions of prized manuscripts to her profile of a man who took an obsession too far, her story will leave you hankering to read more. " -- Julia Scheeres, author of Jesus Land "As a rule I approach unsolicited galleys with the same degree of delight that I reserve for root canals. This book surprised me. I read the first paragraph and was drawn in, not so much by the subject matter as by the author's cozy, quiet style, evocative of the work of Dava Sobel and Janet Malcolm. I found the narrative compelling, and I loved the inside stories about old books." --Erik Larson, bestselling author of The Devil and the White City, "In this great read about the collector's obsession gone wrong, Ms. Bartlett gives us fascinating glimpses of the rare book world, the criminal mind and the limits of journalistic involvement. Anyone who has trouble passing a used bookstore without going in will love this book." -Lynn H. Nicholas, author of The Rape of Europa "Hats off to Allison Bartlett for a splendid contribution to the literature of bibliophilia/bibliomania, the John Gilkey-Ken 'bibliodick' Sanders story is one that cried out to be told, and she has accomplished it with style and substance. Very nicely done." -Nicholas A. Basbanes, author of A Gentle Madness "A fascinating journey into a strange, obsessive world where a love for books can sometimes become a fatal attraction." -Simon Worrall, author of The Poet and the Murderer "John Gilkey wanted to own a rich-man's library in the worst way, and was soon acquiring expensive first editions in the very worst way of all: theft. Allison Hoover Bartlett's "The Man Who Loved Books Too Much" is the enthralling account of a gently mad con artist and his fraudulent credit-card scams, but it's also a meditation on the urge to collect and a terrific introduction to the close-knit, swashbuckling world of antiquarian book dealers." -Michael Dirda, Pulitzer Prize-winning critic and author of Classics for Pleasureand the memoir An Open Book "Allison Hoover Bartlett has written a meticulous and fascinating book about a serial bookthief and the persistent sleuth who dogged him for years and finally caught him. It will be especially gripping for those of us who trade in antiquarian books, who owe much to Ken Sanders's persistence. A fine read." -Larry McMurtry, bestselling author of Books: A Memoirand the Pulitzer Prize-winning Lonesome Dove "With its brilliantly observed details, wry humor, and thrilling plot twists, Bartlett's narrative drew me deep into the obsessive world of a book thief and the dealer determined to stop him. It's a captivating cat-and-mouse game and a fascinating exploration of why people are so passionate about books. If you liked The Orchid Thief, you're going to love The Man Who Loved Books Too Much." -Julia Flynn Siler, author of The House of Mondavi "Bartlett's tale of literary intrigue makes you fall in love with books all over again. From her fascinating descriptions of prized manuscripts to her profile of a man who took an obsession too far, her story will leave you hankering to read more. " -Julia Scheeres, author of Jesus Land "As a rule I approach unsolicited galleys with the same degree of delight that I reserve for root canals. This book surprised me. I read the first paragraph and was drawn in, not so much by the subject matter as by the author's cozy, quiet style, evocative of the work of Dava Sobel and Janet Malcolm. I found the narrative compelling, and I loved the inside stories about old books." -Erik Larson, bestselling author of The Devil and the White City
Format
Hardcover
LC Classification Number
Z992.8.B37 2009
Number of Pages
274 pages
Item description from the seller
Seller feedback (5,706,169)
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- f***l (350)- Feedback left by buyer.Past 6 monthsVerified purchaseGreat book in great shape.
- c***m (426)- Feedback left by buyer.Past 6 monthsVerified purchaseWOW!; I cannot believe this 3 Days to Hawaii! ; AAA+++; Excellent Service; Great Pricing; Fast Delivery-Faster Than Expected to Hawaii!; Shipped 05/05, Mon, Received 05/08, Thu to Hawaii using free shipping; USPS Ground Mail, Book in Excellent Condition--Better Than Described ; TLC Packaging; Excellent Seller Communication, Sends updates . Highly Recommended!, Thank you very much!The Internment of Japanese Americans During World War II (#146005407795)
- v***v (2069)- Feedback left by buyer.Past monthVerified purchaseAlthough this book was not as described, with no picture of it in the listing, the seller communicated well and quickly gave me a full refund while letting me keep it. The minimal packaging left the book a bit vulnerable (typical for ThriftBooks), but it did arrive safely and timely. As usual, it’s hit or miss with this seller, but often times you can get great values, and their customer service is always very good. Many other sellers with millions of transactions don’t even communicate.
- 2***j (113)- Feedback left by buyer.Past monthVerified purchaseI've ordered several items from this vendor now and they've always been what they were advertised as. This was no exception. Both discs were in great shape as well as their jewel cases. Delivery is good, packaging is simple but effective for what you're paying and I haven't had any get damaged. Will keep buying from this vendor because of the results so far and good prices, too.
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Seller feedback (5,706,169)
This item (1)
All items (5,706,169)
- f***l (350)- Feedback left by buyer.Past 6 monthsVerified purchaseGreat book in great shape.
- c***m (426)- Feedback left by buyer.Past 6 monthsVerified purchaseWOW!; I cannot believe this 3 Days to Hawaii! ; AAA+++; Excellent Service; Great Pricing; Fast Delivery-Faster Than Expected to Hawaii!; Shipped 05/05, Mon, Received 05/08, Thu to Hawaii using free shipping; USPS Ground Mail, Book in Excellent Condition--Better Than Described ; TLC Packaging; Excellent Seller Communication, Sends updates . Highly Recommended!, Thank you very much!The Internment of Japanese Americans During World War II (#146005407795)
- v***v (2069)- Feedback left by buyer.Past monthVerified purchaseAlthough this book was not as described, with no picture of it in the listing, the seller communicated well and quickly gave me a full refund while letting me keep it. The minimal packaging left the book a bit vulnerable (typical for ThriftBooks), but it did arrive safely and timely. As usual, it’s hit or miss with this seller, but often times you can get great values, and their customer service is always very good. Many other sellers with millions of transactions don’t even communicate.
- 2***j (113)- Feedback left by buyer.Past monthVerified purchaseI've ordered several items from this vendor now and they've always been what they were advertised as. This was no exception. Both discs were in great shape as well as their jewel cases. Delivery is good, packaging is simple but effective for what you're paying and I haven't had any get damaged. Will keep buying from this vendor because of the results so far and good prices, too.