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Review
'You will enjoy Tolkien's Gown... at Warwick University [Gekoski] discovered that he had an eye for books and manuscripts and began to deal in them. That is how he has made a successful living for many years. He is also a very good storyteller.' --Sunday Telegraph
The Big Issue, September 30, 2004
'No lover of fiction will want to miss out on the skeletons in these closets.'
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I loved this book - it's a wonderful combination of literary insight, amusing anecdote and the useless bits of information only applicable to the most esoteric pub quiz. 20 different books, each with their own stories to tell - about authors, publishers, reviewers and readership. Because Gekoski comes at his subject as both an academic and businessman trying to make a living, he has a fascinating range of yarns up his sleeve.
It was particularly fun to hear of the recurring bitparts played by Graham Greene in the story of Gekoski's catalogue, as well as the often wry remarks of an American living in England - I suppose that makes him the Bill Bryson of the book trade, though I suspect he wouldn't be particularly flattered to hear it.
But the most enjoyable thing for me was to learn some of the rigmarole in the genesis of some of my favourite books, stories one never really hears (unless of course one has gone really keen by following up with writers' biographies). Too often, one just picks up a book to read without giving a moment's thought to how it came to be on a shop's shelf.
Anyone who has even the slightest appreciation for books (especially 20th Century novels and poetry) will not fail to enjoy this rattling book. Buy it and read it. Gekoski's bibliophilia is incurably infections.
It was particularly fun to hear of the recurring bitparts played by Graham Greene in the story of Gekoski's catalogue, as well as the often wry remarks of an American living in England - I suppose that makes him the Bill Bryson of the book trade, though I suspect he wouldn't be particularly flattered to hear it.
But the most enjoyable thing for me was to learn some of the rigmarole in the genesis of some of my favourite books, stories one never really hears (unless of course one has gone really keen by following up with writers' biographies). Too often, one just picks up a book to read without giving a moment's thought to how it came to be on a shop's shelf.
Anyone who has even the slightest appreciation for books (especially 20th Century novels and poetry) will not fail to enjoy this rattling book. Buy it and read it. Gekoski's bibliophilia is incurably infections.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
At first impression, Rick Gekoski appears a world away from the genteel sanctuary of second-hand bookshops and their monk-like proprietors but what sustains his book is a common delight in the fusty and not so fusty love of books themselves. Tolkien's Gown is based on Gekoski's Radio 4 series Rare Books, Rare People. Each of the twenty chapters focuses on a celebrated twentieth-century author, concentrating on a particular book. There are James Joyce and Beatrix Potter, Jack Kerouac and J.K.Rowling, Sons and Lovers and The Hobbit, Eliot and Larkin. Gekoski has a dealer's perspective but his pithy and perceptive criticism reflects a man of letters. Anecdote is informed by personal aquaintanceship in the case of Golding, Greene and Rushdie; there is always an awareness of the wider context. More than anything, there is an ease and fluency in his communication, a joy in what he describes. But don't be fooled by the informal style, it is very precise. You know exactly what he's getting at when he says that so-and-so 'wore his charisma lightly'.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I loved this book - it's a wonderful combination of literary insight, amusing anecdote and the useless bits of information only applicable to the most esoteric pub quiz. 20 different books, each with their own stories to tell - about authors, publishers, reviewers and readership. Because Gekoski comes at his subject as both an academic and businessman trying to make a living, he has a fascinating range of yarns up his sleeve.
It was particularly fun to hear of the recurring bitparts played by Graham Greene in the story of Gekoski's catalogue, as well as the often wry remarks of an American living in England - I suppose that makes him the Bill Bryson of the book trade, though I suspect he wouldn't be particularly flattered to hear it.
But the most enjoyable thing for me was to learn some of the rigmarole in the genesis of some of my favourite books, stories one never really hears (unless of course one has gone really keen by following up with writers' biographies). Too often, one just picks up a book to read without giving a moment's thought to how it came to be on a shop's shelf.
Anyone who has even the slightest appreciation for books (especially 20th Century novels and poetry) will not fail to enjoy this rattling book. Buy it and read it. Gekoski's bibliophilia is incurably infections.
It was particularly fun to hear of the recurring bitparts played by Graham Greene in the story of Gekoski's catalogue, as well as the often wry remarks of an American living in England - I suppose that makes him the Bill Bryson of the book trade, though I suspect he wouldn't be particularly flattered to hear it.
But the most enjoyable thing for me was to learn some of the rigmarole in the genesis of some of my favourite books, stories one never really hears (unless of course one has gone really keen by following up with writers' biographies). Too often, one just picks up a book to read without giving a moment's thought to how it came to be on a shop's shelf.
Anyone who has even the slightest appreciation for books (especially 20th Century novels and poetry) will not fail to enjoy this rattling book. Buy it and read it. Gekoski's bibliophilia is incurably infections.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Review of Tolkien's Gown
Rick Gekoski is an academic who slowly became involved in the rare book trade.
The rarity or otherwise of early editions is the spring board for each chapter but for anyone... Read more
The rarity or otherwise of early editions is the spring board for each chapter but for anyone... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Dennett
`What is the value of a book?'
There are twenty essays (chapters) in this book. Each one focuses on a twentieth century writer and one of his or her key works through a mixture of biography, literary history... Read more
Published on 17 Nov 2009 by J. Cameron-Smith
Book collecting
This is a fascinating read for anyone who has an interest in the world of book collecting. Gekoski has shared with us some terrific tales about his life as a book dealer. Read more
Published on 1 Nov 2007 by kehs
Well I enjoyed it!
Enjoyable read, fascinating background to the authors included and the book dealing industry.
Published on 20 Jan 2006 by JG
Wonderful
This is a collection of anecdotes centred around the authors experience in collecting rare books, or anything else connected to the literary world that will make a few quid, (hence... Read more
Published on 18 Nov 2004 by T
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