The man who stole 15,000 library books
Over the course of a decade, from around 1965 to 1975, Joseph Feldman managed to steal 15,000 books from the New York Public Library. He was caught when firemen entered his Greenwich Village apartment while responding to an alarm in his building and discovered all the books, piled up everywhere. When asked why he had taken them all, Feldman responded, “I like to read.”
In the 21st century, playwright Erika Mijlin was inspired to write a play, Feldman and the Infinite, about the incident. It was first performed in 2008. Her description of it:
And below, a video clip of the performance.
Arizona Daily Star - Sep 27, 1975
In the 21st century, playwright Erika Mijlin was inspired to write a play, Feldman and the Infinite, about the incident. It was first performed in 2008. Her description of it:
In 1975, Feldman, a 58-year-old lawyer in New York City, was discovered to have stolen 15,000 books from the New York Public Library. He had rented two or three apartments in the West Village specifically to store these books, and it took 20 men, 7 truckloads over 3 days to remove them all. Feldman and the Infinite is a play that ultimately invents Feldman’s motives, and speculates about the universality of his quest - seeking knowledge and enlightenment, and finding what appears to be randomness and chaos.
And below, a video clip of the performance.
Comments
15,000 books! My idea of a slice of heaven! I have a few more thousand to go before I achieve 15,000 books. At the rate I accumulate books, I shall not get there. However, should I manage to possess 13,000 more, I will endeavour to have a completely separate home just for books.
agent j
agent j
Posted by agent j on 01/31/19 at 09:42 AM
Feldman was a hoarder, before the behavior was labelled. I see inspiration for the "Library Cop" story from "Seinfeld."
I thought the play excerpt shows that the treatment of Feldman was well acted and well written.
I thought the play excerpt shows that the treatment of Feldman was well acted and well written.
Posted by KDP on 01/31/19 at 10:17 AM
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Category: Crime | Books | Libraries | Collectors | 1970s