BOOKS: The Man Who Loved Books Too Much

Bibliomania

John Gilkey, an obsessed book lover, wanted to have a rich man's library full of expensive first editions and rare volumes__and he wanted it in the worst way__by theft. Obsessed and driven by a mania for beautiful books Gilkey managed to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of rare books from fairs, book stores, dealers and libraries__but he eventually got nabbed__and by who?__ a self appointed "book detective" named Ken Sanders. In "The Man Who Loved Books Too Much: The True Story of a Thief, a Detective and a World of Literary Obsession," Allison Hoover Bartlett tells the story of how serial book thief Gilkey was able to carry out his nefarious crimes and how Sanders the "Bibliodick" was able to track him down and bring him to justice. Bartlett manages to weave an entertaining cat and mouse chase into her narrative revealing why Gilkey was willing to stop at nothing to get his prize."The Man Who Loves Books Too Much" is a well written account of an odd sickness and a fascinating glimpse into the strange obsessive world of rare book collecting. It's full of humor, detail and plot twists. In the end it becomes an examination of why some people are so passionate about books and how it can drive them to madness. This is another great addition to the literature of bibliomania and bibliomaniacs that started in 1995 with the publication of a "A Gentle Madness."