Title

The poet and the murderer : a true story of literary crime and the art of forgery

Description

Chronicles Mark Hofmann's attempt to forge an Emily Dickinson poem at the end of the twentieth century, and discusses how his deceit and greed undermined some of the most prominent institutions of present-day academia.

Identifier

1015657

525945962

Creator

Worrall, Simon

Source

Brian Lamb Booknotes Collection

Gift of Brian Lamb, 2011.

Catalog record

Language

eng

Date

2002

Program air date: August 18, 2002

Publisher

Dutton

George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections & Archives

Text

Transcription of Annotations
Front endpapers include a long list of names: "Mark Hofmann, Brent Ashworth, Todd Axelrod, Ralph Franklin, Daniel Lombardo, Marsha Malinowski, Kenneth Rendell, Selby Kiffer, Steve Christensen, Thomas Wilding, Sid Jennen, Doralee Olds, Samuel Bowles, Jeff Salt, Steven Covey, Ken Farnsworth, etc., followed by three place names: Las Vegas, Amherst, Salt Lake City", and the words: "money, deceit, greed, murder." Other notes refer to Sotheby's Gallery of History in Las Vegas, Todd Axelrod's stores, and an announcement in the New York Times regarding an unpublished poem to be offered at Sotheby's. Under "Mormons" these entries are listed: "Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, Gordon Hinckley; polygamy; the golden plates; White Salamander - a letter that tells the founding myth of the Mormon religion, p. 140; [over a] 5 year period: sold 450 documents to the Church: Joseph III blessing; Oath of a Freeman; Facsimile no.2 of the Book of Abraham." -- Annotations by Brian Lamb in the margins and underlining of pertinent phrases throughout the book. -- Example: p. 133: "And Hofmann was not a mediocre forger. Indeed, in the long annals of literary forgery there has never been a forger so meticulous in his research, so skillful in his techniques, so malevolent in his intentions or grandiose in his designs."

Subject

"Hofmann, Mark."

"Dickinson, Emily, 1830-1886--Forgeries."

"Forgery--Utah--Salt Lake City."

"Forgery of manuscripts--Utah--Salt Lake City."

"Murder--Utah--Salt Lake City."

Relation

Original Booknotes interview

Rights

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