The life of a thief has its perks: one can live well, eat well, and amass great fortune without the sweat and blood of human effort. The crime itself fosters an exhilarating high and an air of invincibility. The thief constructs a world by his own rules, and he becomes the master of his domain. The downfall of crime quickens his pace.  With each misstep, he leaves his prints behind for blood hounds in hot pursuit. Burgeoning arrogance buffers him against the law as the clever thief attempts to dodge his captor. Journalist, Allison Hoover Bartlett, chronicles this pilfering book thief and an unlikely detective in The Man Who Loved Books Too Much.

The enigmatic figure, flattened against a bookcase, coupled my initial attraction to this book. In this narrative, Bartlett, uses her journalistic instincts and dogged reporting to illuminate the world of book thievery. Though art fraud and other forms of cultural deception have been noted throughout history, Bartlett notes book thefts occur with greater frequency. The attraction and allure of these rare books lie in the hunt for first editions. Some of the rarest and most coveted books can fetch upwards of tens of thousands and even hundreds of thousands of dollars. And unlike artwork, a book can simply disappear in the folds of a jacket. In the case of John Gilkey, he wielded his charm, literary knowledge, and credit card fraud to create an extensive book collection valued at over $100,000.

Gilkey’s background didn’t fit the mold of a hardened ex-con. As a child, he was a bookworm feasting on books and a love of literature. This love remained with him as an adult, fostering a dangerous attraction for rare books. He lacked the monetary means to purchase the collection he so desperately desired and turned to a life of crime and deception.

Bartlett gathered the details of Gilkey’s book scams in several sit-down interviews. Noting his affable and comfortable demeanor, Gilkey exposed his tactics of gathering credit card numbers while working at a posh, department store. Once he gathered fraudulent information, he would contact local book dealers and placed orders for rare book titles via payphone.

At first, no one caught onto Gilkey’s book theft games until Ken Sanders burst onto the scene. Bartlett affectionately refers to Sanders as a “bibliodick” who quickly assumes the role of detective in his quest to hunt down would-be thieves. Sanders utilized tools on the Internet to send updates and alerts on potential theft activity. He also gathered information from local bookstores, developed a sketch of Gilkey, and eventually catches him in the act. The law, however, provides loopholes for cunning criminals who weasel through the justice system. While Gilkey spent a few months in prison, most of the crimes he committed occurred beyond the statute of limitations. Moreover, some of his alleged book thefts could not be proven in the court of law. Thus, the tale reads like a neverending Tom and Jerry cartoon with Tom infinitely chasing Jerry’s tail.

Some may question the desirability of book collecting. Why shell out exorbitant sums of money for antiquated books with worn covers? One must consider first edition books are like fine wine and appreciate in value over time. Beyond an investment, rare books also carry the cache of historical and cultural allure. Some old books have personalized signatures from authors and even notes from gift givers to their friends. Wandering in the hands of various owners, the book becomes an awe-inspiring narrative. To possess a book that was written in the period of the author is like stepping into an old world civilization.

Reading The Man Who Loved Books Too Much has piqued my curiosity in rare book collecting. I remember the scholastic book fairs at my school and excitedly tearing through the book catalogs. Book ownership can foster great desire and satisfaction for reader enthusiasts everywhere. If you love books or have an interest in collecting, you should read Bartlett’s fascinating story. The antiquated pages unfold like an accordion in your fingertips, setting the stage for unique narratives of literary intrigue.