Kjellquist Blog

The Amazon review of The Thieves of Book Row by Travis McDade describes the book as a “griping tale” and “fast-paced, true-life thriller”. Even for Amazon this description is a bit of excessive hyperbola. Thieves is certainly not a Baldacci or Berry thriller in real-life.

More accurately McDade gives us a well research comprehensive look into an interesting period of book selling, libraries and book theft. Most of the activity takes place just prior and during the Depression years.

Thieves is a comprehensive description of the characters of the New York and Boston book trade and significant libraries on both sides of the law.

My biggest criticism of McDade’s writing is it’s scholarly style. McDade errors on the side of completeness rather than making a tightly written and edited text for the average reader. For example, numerous times in the book McDade explains for each book thief that they most often used large overcoats with multiple interior pockets to conceal books and remove them from libraries. It does get tiresome to read this refrain throughout the book.

However, this criticism aside, McDade does illustrate a fascinating time when valuable americana first editions were readily available on public library shelves. Given the dire economic times and lax judicial view of book theft it is completely understandable how criminals could be drawn in.

The reader is left with a lasting impression and nagging question at the completion of Thieves. How many of today’s very rare first editions of americana were at one time on public library shelves and stolen by book thieves? McDade regularly asserts that “many thousands” of books went through the hands of the theft rings and only a very small number were ever recovered.

Jon Meacham has once again produced superb biography on one of America’s founding fathers. I learned of Meacham’s skill as a writer and historian from his book, American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House. Jon Meacham’s most recent book, Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power is a comprehensive and illuminating biography of one our greatest founding fathers. When thinking about this review I decided to try an answer the question – Why should you read this book? The book is not a casual read. The book contains 500 pages of the details of Jefferson’s life from his childhood to his death in 1826. There have been many biographies of Jefferson, good and bad. Why make the effort with this book and Thomas Jefferson?

Thomas Jefferson is perhaps the most complex of all the founding fathers. Benjamin Franklin comes nearest to to Jefferson as a scholar and diplomat but without the opportunity as president. Jefferson; the philosopher, scientist, farmer, governor, diplomat and president makes for nearly timeless insights into governing in a democracy. Meacham skillfully dissects volumes of material to describe how Jefferson became the leader we know. He also shows the multiple sides of Jefferson. For example, his life long philosophical opposition to slavery but a slave owner. A republican and believer in limited central government but the first president to exercise war powers and expansion of presidential power. The story of the Louisiana Purchase shows a pragmatic president acting for the good of the nation despite concerns of constitutionality.

This book is a valuable reference source for Jefferson insights that are entirely relevant today as 200 years ago. For example, in 1811 Jefferson wrote to his son-in-law John Wayles Eppes describing the infighting in Congress. This sentiment might equally apply today!

“United by no fixed principles or objects and destitute of evrything like American feeling, so detestable a minority never existed in any country — Their whole political creed is contained in a single word ‘opposition’—They pursue it without regard to principle, to personal reputation or best interests of their country.”

Finally, this book makes an excellent single reference about Jefferson and should be on everyone’s bookshelf with an interest in American history.

While much of last night’s Academy Awards ceremony was a bit ho hum, there was a bright spot in an unusual category; Best Animated Short. Do take the opportunity to watch this 15 min video on Youtube. The extremely creative short animation is equal measures of Wizard of Oz, Charlie Chaplin, and UP combined with a profound love of books. So click on the picture to the left and enjoy.