About this title: While most thieves steal for profit, rare-book thief John Charles Gilkey steals purely for the love of books. With a mixture of suspense, insight, and humor, "The Man Who Loved Books Too Much" immerses the reader in the world of literary obsession and reveals how dangerous it can be.
Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is described below.
Edition: 1st Ed, 1st Printing, So Stated
Binding: Cloth
Publisher: Riverside Books, NY
Date Published: 2009
ISBN-13:9781594488917ISBN:1594488916
Description: As New/As New. 8vo-over 7¾"-9¾" tall 9781594488917 A very handsome first bound in red cloth covers.274 pages. New! No wear! No defects! read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Riverhead, New York
Date Published: 2009
ISBN-13:9781594488917ISBN:1594488916
Description: NEW. The True Story of a Thief, a Detective, and a World of Literary Obsession. SIGNED. 288pp. Octavo. Hardcover. NEW in Dustjacket. Copies are signed by the author and bookseller Ken Sanders, the "biblio detective", . Antiquarian bookseller Ken Sanders spent six years on the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America's Board of Governors, serving as security chair. During those years Sanders became involved, some say obsessively involved, in numerous high profile fraud, forgery and book ... read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Riverhead Hardcover
Date Published: 2009
ISBN-13:9781594488917ISBN:1594488916
Description: New. Brand New! Buy with confidence-your satisfaction is guaranteed at B-Logistics! Due to the large scale of our operation, we do not have access to the specific contents/condition of our items. Please note that Expedited shipping is not available at this time. read more
Edition: First Edition; First Printing
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Riverhead, New York, NY, USA
Date Published: 2009
ISBN-13:9781594488917ISBN:1594488916
Description: As New in As New dust jacket; Signed by Author. 8vo. 9781594488917. First Edition/First Printing in unread As New condition in alike dust-jacket. SIGNED by author Allison Hoover Bartlett, signed and dated on the date of publication by bibliodective Ken Sanders on title page; The true story of John Charles Gilkey, a book loving man, who has spent years pilfering those books which he desires. And of antiquarian bookseller Ken Sanders, the biblio-detective, who has spent the same number of years ... read more
Binding: Hardback
Publisher: Penguin Group Usa
Date Published: 2009
ISBN-13:9781594488917ISBN:1594488916
Description: New. While most thieves steal for profit, rare-book thief John Charles Gilkey steals purely for the love of books. With a mixture of suspense, insight, and humor, "The Man Who Loved Books Too Much" immerses the reader in the world of literary obsession an... read more
Binding: First edition, Hardcover, New in dust jacket,
Publisher: Riverhead Books, New York
Date Published: 2009
ISBN-13:9781594488917ISBN:1594488916
Description: True story. Gilkey. Gilkey is a thief. Over the years he' stolen hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of, and here's the amazing part, books. That's right he's a rare book thief and has stolen books from all over the country. Here's the even more amazing part: He didn't do it for the money, he did it because he love books, rare books particularly, and stole them to keep in his very own secret library. Incredible, no? Yes, bad man here, but what a kink is this particular bad man's persona. The ... read more
Description: Bartlett, Allison Hoover. THE MAN WHO LOVED BOOKS TOO MUCH. NY: Riverhead Books, c2009. First printing. 274pp. 8vo. New hardcover copy with d/j. read more
"A good glimpse into the strange world of rare book collecting. "Don't judge a book by its content," says a book dealer at a fair. Most collectors don't even read the books! Don't get me wrong, I molest books as much as the next bibliophile, but I also happen to read them.
I enjoyed such insights. In fact, the facts from the history of rare book collecting, ultimately, sustained the book. After awhile, the central story becomes repetitive. Gilkey is not in the final analysis that compelling. He's more of an unrepetant, broken record than anything. Still, I would recommend reading this if you are a bibliophile--you will find yourself in good company.
Another great story from the colorful history: "At another booth, a dealer told me the story of a famous prank. There was a pair of books, one by Hemingway, another by Thomas Wolfe. Each had written a long inscription to the other. A knowledgeable dealer had to inform the unfortunate owner who had just paid a pretty penny for them that the insciptions were not authentic, and that the value was not what he had hoped. Later, another dealer discovered that they were spectacular forgeries: Wolfe had written Hemingway's insciption, and Hemingway, Wolfe's.""
"I LOVED this book. I don't even know where to begin.
If you love books, the reading of them, the hint of promise each one has when you pick it up - whether first edition rare or just a new novel you picked up at this library, you will love this book. There are so many gems throughout it. Stories of rare books, quotes, tales of thieves, descriptions of those who collect. The author lost herself in the research for this book and it shows.
This is the story of a book thief - or as he would describe himself, a man who collects books. Of course he doesn't steal them! Another man who set out to get him - and succeeded, to an extent. And a woman who became fascinated with their story.
I just can't describe how awesome this book was. I read it from cover to cover in about 3 1/2 hours and literally did not move from my spot on the couch except for a quick drink break and an update to let people know how much I love this book.
Read it. I'll be reading it again, and again - and I have no doubt finding a new treasure hidden in it each and every time."
"Bartlett, Allison Hoover. THE MAN WHO LOVED BOOKS TOO MUCH: The True Story of a Thief, a Detective, and a World of Literary Obsession. (2009). ****. The extended title of this book says it all. The author explores the world of bibliomania, or at least that nether part of it that drives people to steal books. Her prinicipal focus is a man named John Charles Gilkey. Gilkey was a book thief, and a very clever one. The difference between Gilkey and other members of his fraternity is that he stole books because of his love of books, not for monetary gain - although he occassionally sold the odd volume to get ready money. He believed that there was a severe injustice in out system where rich people could buy these expensive and rare items whereas he was denied them because of his lack of money. His thievery equalized the social injustice - in his mind. Gilkey was occassionally caught and served short periods in jail, but the authorities really couldn't seem to get interested in book theft. It took an insider, Ken Sanders, to act as a prime mover to identify Gilkey and to ultimately bring him to justice. Sanders was the owner of a rare book store in Salt Lake City. I don't know if it is still there or not. His shop was a member of the ABAA, an association of book sellers dealing in rare and unusual books. Members of this organization must meet high standards of performance and service and are recognized as the premier bookstores in the world. Sanders was appointed to the security division of the ABAA and organized a system whereby thefts of books from any of the members were reported and immediately included in an on-line data base that other members could view. This meant that they would be on the look-out for those books should someone come into their shops and try to sell them. Gilkey was a thorn in their side, however, since he did not - ordinarilly - resell the books. Gilkey believed that the acquisition (the term used loosely) of a fine library would provide him with the bona fides of culture and class. He did read some of the books, but their main purpose was to show off his level of "learning" to the rest of society. He had no formal education, but chose to steal rare first editions of the books listed by Modern Library as the "100 Best Books" of the modern era. This is a fascinating look into the world of books, books selling, book collecting, and the odd book collector who would rather not pay for them. If you are a book lover, you will love this book. Recommended."
""The Man Who Loved Books Too Much" by Allison Hoover Bartlett (from 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 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.
MY THOUGHTS: This is a very informative book about book collecting. John Gilkey is obsessed with rare books. He thinks owning them will make him important and well known. He also doesn't pay for them. He steals them! Ken Sanders is a book collector of rare and hard to find books. He buys his books. Sanders also is obsessed, with catching John Gilkey. What starts Ms. Bartlett off to finding all this information about books? A nearly four-hundred-year-old book called Kreuterbuch ("plant book") of botanical medicine by Hieronymus Bock, a botanist and physician. Just where did she find this book? A friend came across the book while sorting through some things after a friends death. There was a not attached that explained someone had taken it from a college library and then moved, forgetting to return the book. Mx. Bartlett called the library and they said they no record of the book. This led her to something more intriguing, stories about theft of books. Which led her to Ken Sanders. She even has interviews with John Gilkey in this book. Plus lots of info on other rare and stolen books from as far back as the 14th century. If you want info collecting books and what to look for, that's in this book too."
We guarantee every item's condition, as described on Alibris. If you are not satisfied that an item is as described, return your purchase for a refund.
rating
