The Map Thief

The Gripping Story of an Esteemed Rare-Map Dealer Who Made Millions Stealing Priceless Maps

By: Michael Blanding

Narrated by: Sean Runnette

Length: 8 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's summary

Maps have long exerted a special fascination on viewers - both as beautiful works of art and as practical tools to navigate the world. But to those who collect them, the map trade can be a cutthroat business, inhabited by quirky and sometimes disreputable characters in search of a finite number of extremely rare objects.

Once considered a respectable antiquarian map dealer, E. Forbes Smiley spent years doubling as a map thief - until he was finally arrested slipping maps out of books in the Yale University library. The Map Thief delves into the untold history of this fascinating high-stakes criminal and the inside story of the industry that consumed him. Acclaimed reporter Michael Blanding has interviewed all the key players in this stranger-than-fiction story, and shares the fascinating histories of maps that charted the New World, and how they went from being practical instruments to quirky heirlooms to highly coveted objects. Though pieces of the map theft story have been written before, Blanding is the first reporter to explore the story in full - and had the rare privilege of having access to Smiley himself after he'd gone silent in the wake of his crimes. Moreover, although Smiley swears he has admitted to all of the maps he stole, libraries claim he stole hundreds more - and offer intriguing clues to prove it. Now, through a series of exclusive interviews with Smiley and other key individuals, Blanding teases out an astonishing tale of destruction and redemption. The Map Thief interweaves Smiley's escapades with the stories of the explorers and mapmakers he knew better than anyone. Tracking a series of thefts as brazen as the art heists in Provenance and a subculture as obsessive as the oenophiles in The Billionaire's Vinegar, Blanding has pieced together an unforgettable story of high-stakes crime.

©2014 Blanding Enterprises, LLC (P)2014 Tantor

Critic reviews

" The Map Thief isn't just a perceptive, meticulously researched portrait of an exceedingly unlikely felon. It's also a tribute to the beautiful old maps that inspired his cartographic crimes - and shaped our modern world." (Ken Jennings)

A way to learn history through a modern event

Well written story and performance. Nice introduction to map history.
Many complain about the reader; for me, he fits the story.

A Study of the Strangeness of People

This is a fascinating listen! You might think map collectors and dealers just couldn't be all that interesting, but you would be wrong.

Anyone who has poured over a map on the fly leaves of a book or noticed the beauty of a colorful map will appreciate the subject matter here. There's a lot of surprisingly enlightening information about the history and artistry of map making around the world. Listening while on road trips, my husband and I found ourselves learning a lot and enjoying the process.

But this is not a book just about maps. It's primarily about people and their odd, odd ways. Forbes Smiley is the map collector, student, dealer, and, finally, thief. He's a complicated man - one who can love maps and the libraries which harbor them while, at the same time, consistently stealing for personal gain from the institutions and people who trust him.

It's also about the incredible lack of records and security in rare book libraries and archives. About the defensiveness of university and public library officials who fear losing prospective donations so much that they fail to report thefts from their collections. About collectors and dealers who eagerly snap up maps which they well know may be stolen. About the distinction between "fine art" and these lovely antique maps and atlases - and the discrepancy between punishments for criminals involved in stealing them.

This book is about a lot. I think just about anyone will like it!

A good story about what could be a very dull topic

Would you listen to The Map Thief again? Why?

Yes, but more for the cartographic history section and not as much for the details of Smiley's life.

Which scene was your favorite?

I enjoyed the section about the development of different maps and general cartography.

Any additional comments?

The sections about creating map collections got a little tedious and pretentious for my tastes, but it strikes me that map dealing is a profession and topic which could likely become tedious and pretentious as well. This does a good job of explaining the importance of the maps in question as well as the generally relaxed attitude toward library security. The author does a nice job of refraining from painting Smiley as either a hero or villain and balances different points of view nicely. It's a well written book, but I can understand if it's not for everyone.

Hidden intrigue in library's oldest books.

I enjoyed the book and learned about the Map market, but it's not a terribly exciting book. I like the Reader and that helped me finish. I think that the author did an excellent job of wrighting on a fairly dry subject.

interesting premise turned dull

I had high hopes for this, but it put me to sleep. Maybe it was the content, maybe it was the delivery, but it is a snooze-fest.

Loved it

The information and story in this book kept me enthralled. I've even read it twice, because after the first time, I recommended it to my bookclub.

the map thief

I love true stories, so this book is right up my alley. I like to hear about the backgrounds of the subject.

Not Going to be a Blockbuster Movie

Unless Hollywood does some major rewriting it won't make it to the big screen. I've enjoyed maps as a casual observer: old ones, new ones, water, topographical... In fact, I at one time I considered getting into cartography as a profession. So I found the story interesting but not breath stopping.

It did upset me to think of the permanent, irreparable damage done to all the books and atlas' by map thieves. The courts and laws are not strong enough when someone has been convicted of these crimes.

I believe Mr. Runnette needs a visit to his dentist. There's some whistling there that is distracting from the narration.

Mundane subject that is not close to mundane

I was admittedly a bit worried about the possibility of dryness for a book about maps, but this was a surprisingly interesting and exciting romp through the world of maps and the person who loves them a bit too much. Crossing many years and the globe, Map Thief starts with the end then explains how they there. Another gem showing that truth is stranger than fiction...who knew maps could be so exciting (and not boring at all).

with a little charm, you can rob almost anyone

Great recap of how Mr. Smiley navigated his way from scholarly research of old maps into stealing them, in an effort to support his lifestyle.