Guarded by Dragons: Encounters with Rare Books and Rare People

by Rick Gekoski

The Times Best Literary Non-fiction Books 2021 - 'a super yarn'

'Rick Gekoski's encyclopaedic knowledge of rare books is matched only by the enthusiasm and brio with which he writes about them' Ian Rankin

Rick Gekoski has been traversing the rocky terrain of the rare book trade for over fifty years. The treasure he seeks is scarce, carefully buried and often jealously guarded, knowledge of its hiding place shared through word of mouth like the myths of old.

In Guarded by Dragons , Gekoski invites readers into this enchanted world as he reflects on the gems he has unearthed throughout his career. He takes us back to where his love of collecting began - perusing D.H. Lawrence first editions in a slightly suspect Birmingham carpark. What follows are dizzying encounters with literary giants as Gekoski publishes William Golding, plays ping-pong with Salman Rushdie and lunches with Graham Greene. A brilliant stroke of luck sees Sylvia Plath's personal copy of The Great Gatsby fall into Gekoski's lap, only for him to discover the perils of upsetting a Poet Laureate when Ted Hughes demands its return.

Hunting for literary treasure is not without its battles and Gekoski boldly breaks the cardinal rule never to engage in a lawsuit with someone much richer than yourself, while also guarding his bookshop from the most unlikely of thieves. The result is an unparalleled insight into an almost mythical world where priceless first editions of Ulysses can vanish, and billionaires will spend as much gold as it takes to own the manuscript of J.K. Rowling's Tales of Beedle the Bard .

Engaging, funny and shrewd, Guarded by Dragons is a fascinating discussion on value and worth. At the same time, Gekoski artfully reveals how a manuscript can tell a thousand stories.

Genres: Nonfiction, Books About Books, Memoir, Literature, Biography Memoir

256 pages, Paperback

Published June 6, 2023

Reviews

[Ray LaManna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book will show you everything you need to know about the rare book trade. Rick's (he's a good friend of mine) stories of his encounters with the rich, the famous and the obnoxious are so well written that you will want to keep on reading till the end.

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The man knows how to tell a good yarn. And combined with the prime tasty ingredients of famous books, famous authors, money, canniness and greed, all there is left to say is, Winner-winner-chicken-dinner!

[Wend Wendland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely delightful. One of the most interesting and enjoyable books I’ve read in a while.

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stories from a long term collector and seller of rare books, engaging and funny. His very detailed and gossipy memoir includes reflections and anecdotes about Graham Green, Ted Hughes, Salman Rushdie, William Golding, John Fowles and others. A fascinating discussion about value and worth.

[emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cool to hear about Ted Hughes from an outsider perspective, but was unsurprising to hear that he’s always not a great person. The Encounters with rare books and people weren’t as riveting as postulated but I am a sucker for Sylvia Plath

[Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection details a selection of Gekoski's memorable book buying and selling experiences over his carer. I'm not even a fan of most of the writers he's talking about but the experiences and situations are always enticing and he has a solid voice with a witty (sometime bitchy) streak. A very enjoyable way to spend some time and a fascinating insight into the rare book trade, the legal profession, the egos of writers and those who collect.

[PAUL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply brilliant. The best book by far about rare book-dealing. I've got and read a few of these type of books and have largely been hugely disappointed in them. Not with this though. My only criticism is that it wasn't long enough. I wanted more. Lots more.

[Anthony Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

A vastly entertaining series of extended anecdotes about Rick Gekoski’s dealings in the rare book trade. In particular, I found his explanation of the complexities of, the knowledge required and the bear traps with which a rare book dealer needs to be equipped and prepared for was helpful to the layman book-lover. I also found his encounters with some authors could be a disillusioning description of folk keen to screw every penny they could out of their work, not only their published texts but also their manuscripts, letters, papers etc. The fierceness with which they could guard their intellectual property sometimes rendered them unattractive. But then, I should reflect on the fact I’m not an author who has been subject to mean royalties and, presumably, loss of income from the Little Library phenomenon and – though I may be wrong here – the secondhand book trade.

The chapter that I found myself most taken by was ‘Get Me Out of Here! The Publishing Archive of Victor Gollancz’. An Augean Stables of a labour, but one undertaken with the help of ‘the exhaustingly ebullient Adam Blakeney’. I noted with pleasure that Adam Blakeney was employed by Peter Harrington Books from whom I purchased a very fine 1st edition of ‘Magnus’ by George Mackay Brown, for which I am very grateful. Thank you.

‘Guarded by Dragons’ is a book I am taking delight in returning to.

[Belinda · Rating 1 out of 5]

I dipped into this.
I found Rick a prat - spending all the family money on rare books when he had a child seemed like indulgence rather than smarts. I guess he ended up doing well out of it, but what if he hadn't? Loads of people don't.

I also found the writers he mentioned - the books - were not the sort I truly enjoy. Lawrence was kind of interesting. The rare books sold by a retiring bookseller seemed like a gift to the greedy Gekoski, but it showed up how vulnerable book selling can be.

The Hughes chapter - Olwyn being the manipulative woman I'd always imagined her to be. Both siblings rode on the coattails of Ted. Olwyn made her living by being his personal dragon. Gerard obviously owned works that he could sell on. The fact the very predatory, probably sex addicted Ted was constantly the victim and not the prowler - oh come on, I've known literary men like this, they love the women and they make every opportunity to use what's in their path even if the women are too young, possibly in a place in their lives when they need someone to admire them. Hughes only wanted sex.

I couldn't bear it all anymore. This book is going back to the library where I hope it's weeded out of the collection in a year.

[Bruce Graham · Rating 3 out of 5]

"In a town like London there are always plenty of not quite certifiable lunatics walking the streets, and they tend to gravitate towards bookshops, because a bookshop is one of the few places where you can hang about for a long time without spending any money," wrote George Orwell in an essay on his time working in a second-hand bookshop. Rick Gekoski broadens the circle of lunacy to embrace the authors and publishers. None of them seem to have an enhanced reputation as a result of dealing with the author.
We learn of John Fowles' anti-Semitism, of the turbulent relationship between Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes, and how quick Hughes is to anger. How Golding believes that signatures 'deface' a book.
Mostly it is all about business, buy low and sell high. If you want confirmation that books are 'just another business' then this is for you.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m so sad to have finished this book. I feel like I’ve been following Rick Gekoski round like an intern, watching him at work as a rare book dealer and listening to his droll stories of famous writers and their works, which he has bought and sold for fifty years.
Going off now to find his other books and devour them, too.
This book is exactly the sort of book I would order, if books were written to order. Brilliant.

[Joanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A somewhat meandering but enjoyable read. Small vignettes and stories of the author’s adventures in the world of rare book trading. Some great tales of meeting high profile authors of the 20th century and good fun since it was an area of little I knew almost nothing about.

I didn’t need any further encouragement to keep buying books but this made me seriously consider picking up another bookish hobby!

I’ve bought his other collection - Tolkien’s Gown - and will enjoy that too I’m sure.

[Alaina Sloo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some writers of memoirs write books that are mostly about the people and the events they've encountered in life; some write books about themselves. This one is a little too much of the latter for my taste. But if you're a lover or collector of old books, there are many fun facts and stories for you to enjoy in this book.

[Rhonda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always appreciate an insight into different careers, particularly those involving books or writing. From someone with such a long career as a book dealer, this was a relatively short book, focusing on just a few stories written in a long-winded English style.

[Chris Bumgardner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Once Upon a Tome was much better, if of less note. It was really interesting to read about high interest auctions of items such as the handwritten, hand illustrated manuscript of The Tale of Beedle the Bard. (And an absolutely ironic travesty that Bezos bought it)

[Jenny · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book might be filled with fascinating anecdotes and thoughtful musings on the rare book trade. But the author's voice is particularly annoying and I could only endure a couple chapters before giving up.

Disappointing.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting insight into the world of a rare bookseller. Gekoski often comes across as a little arrogant, and sometimes on the other hand ridiculously relatable so this made it easy in places to step into his shoes.

[Rosemary Baird Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty niche but a fun authorial voice to read- funny, sarcastic. It was fascinating reading about all the unpleasant male authors the author came across who mostly seem arrogant and sexist.

[Lucy · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF, found the writing rather difficult to engage with.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stayed up late to read this one sitting! Just really, really readable.

[Brian Quast · Rating 3 out of 5]

3-1/2 Stars & a solid B grade.

[Amanda Witt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read, featuring a selection of the author's experience with some well known books and their sales at auctions

[Debra Schoenberger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informative as well as entertaining.

[Christian Degnboel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well written and good stories but way too detailed