Man Who Loved Books Too Much (Bartlett)

The Man Who Loved Books Too Much: The True Story of a Thief, a Detective and a World of Literary Obsession
Allison Hoover Bartlett, 2009
Penguin Group USA
288 pp.
ISBN-13: 9781594484810

Summary
The thrilling tale of the ultimate literary cat-and-mouse game, The Man Who Loved Books Too Much centers on the exploits of one man, rare book thief and compulsive collector John Charles Gilkey, and his brilliant crimes lifting some of the world's most valuable and vulnerable works from dealers across the country. Driven to catch him is Ken Sanders, a self-appointed "bibliodick" and respected bookseller and watchdog, who acts to reunite the works with their rightful owners.

Journalist Allison Hoover Bartlett's journey to understand what drives both men (as she tries to stay out of the middle) is not only an insightful tale of high suspense and high stakes, but is also an exploration of what makes us crave and treasure the books we do, and the fine line between a love for books and a dangerous obsession. (From the publisher.)