Michael Blanding The Map Thief

In a digital age where maps are just a GPS away. Who would secretly desire to steal the world's most famous maps? From the iHeart Radio Studio I'm Unplugged and Totally Uncut with Michael Blanding THE MAP THIEF interweaves the fascinating history of this high-stakes criminal with stories of the explorers and mapmakers Smiley knew better than anyone, all situated within the context of the secretive, dog-eat-dog subculture of map collecting that consumed Smiley. Though pieces of the map theft story have been written before, Blanding is the first reporter to have the rare privilege of having access to Smiley himself after he’d gone silent in the wake of his crimes. THE MAP THIEF is thus the first book to explore this story in full, and through a series of exclusive interviews with Smiley and other key individuals, Blanding expertly reports an astonishing tale of personal destruction and redemption. While uncovering the roots of Smiley's crimes, Blanding divulges the implications of Smiley’s crimes on dealers, libraries, collectors, and map lovers alike. THE MAP THIEF is a fascinating and complex story of personal obsession and private rivalries that expose the shadowy underbelly of a seemingly rarified subculture. About the author: Michael Blanding is the author of THE COKE MACHINE: THE DIRTY TRUTH BEHIND THE WORLD’S FAVORITE SOFT DRINK (Avery, 2010) and a journalist with more than 15 years of experience writing long-form narrative and investigative journalism. Previously a staff writer and editor at Boston magazine, Blanding has since freelanced for publications including THE NATION, THE NEW REPUBLIC, CONSUMERS DIGEST, and the BOSTON GLOBE MAGAZINE, where he has focused on investigative stories involving intensive research and interviews. Blanding has been named a senior fellow at the Schuster Institute for Investigative Journalism at Brandeis University, and a network fellow at the Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics at Harvard University.