The Map Thief

In The Map Thief, award-winning investigative reporter Michael Blanding tells the true-life story of a map dealer-turned-criminal E. Forbes Smiley III who stole more than $3 million worth of antique maps from rare-book libraries around the country. Smiley was ultimately caught in 2005 when a librarian spotted a razor blade he dropped on the floor at Yale University leading to the unraveling of his deceptions. Blanding will discuss exclusive new information about the case-including some gleaned through the first-ever interview with Smiley himself-that paints a psychological portrait of a man driven by desperation to betray his friends and colleagues. In addition to talking about Smiley's thefts, Blanding will also talk about the history behind the maps he stole and the continuing implications for library security.