Hermitage: The Strange Story of the Ghost Men of Harlem

by Fred Andersen

The Collyer brothers were two men born in the 1880’s, well-off, well-educated, who apparently were very close to their parents, particularly their mother. They were by all accounts really intelligent and talented (Langley was supposedly a prodigy at the piano), but only one of them held a real job for two years. No one knows just why they ended up as they did: if you watch “Hoarders” on A&E you might get an idea.

Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Fred Andersen is the author of mystery, crime and suspense fiction. Hollywood Noir Mystery: "Lily Torrence;" contemporary crime thriller set on the SW U.S. border: "Line in the Sand." Fred also writes short stories and humor. Humor: "Pregnant Without a Caouse" by Wilshire Lewis. All these books are listed on Goodreads, and avaiable at your favorite online bookstore, at my website:
fxandersen.com, or email fxandersen@msn.com
Also check out my short story about a dangerous chat room:: http://www.imitationfruit.com/issue_6....

Reviews

[Steven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poignant play based on the tragic story of the Collyer Brothers who were trapped and crushed to death in their house unable to move from all the possessions they had hoarded over the years.

On March 21st, 1947, at 8:53 a.m., the New York City police department received a phone call from a man giving the name of Charles Smith, notifying them that he believed a man was dead inside a decaying building on Fifth Avenue in Harlem. Thus was thrust before the public one of the best-known and most mysterious compulsive-hoarding cases of all time.

The Collyer brothers were famous in their time, and while certain facts are known about them, to this day no one knows just why they ended up as they did.