The Map Thief by Michael Blanding

     Frequently, I find non-fiction written by journalists to be well written, efficiently paced, and detailed enough to be intriguing.   Such is the case with The Map Thief.  Blanding investigates the story of E. Forbes Smiley III, an apparently successful rare map dealer who was caught stealing maps from Yale University and later confessed to having stolen nearly 100 maps from other public institutions such as the New York Public Library and the Boston Library.  

     Blanding traces Smiley's rise in the world of rare map dealing, examines Smiley's motivations and personality, and introduces the reader not only to the world of rare maps, but the history of these unique historical artifacts.

     It's a fascinating world, full of meticulous scholars, grandious dealers, and determined collectors.  Smiley had a gift, a talenet for envisioning the way a collection of maps could tell a story, and an increasing need for money.  In the end, though, it is difficult to tell what possesed Smiley to steal from the institutions that trusted and helped him as well as the dealers who supported him.

    An excellent read for the history buff who loves intrigue and peaking into the minds of those who create it.