Guarded by Dragons

Rick Gekoski's encyclopaedic knowledge of rare books is matched only by the enthusiasm and brio with which he writes about them * Ian Rankin * Feisty, astutely dry, intellectually adroit - an intensely pleasurable and rewarding read * William Boyd * Shrewd and gossipy memoir * Observer * The great, renowned rare-book dealer Rick Gekoski is . . . like something out of a Raymond Chandler . . . an absorbing read . . . such fun * Spectator * Gekoski, a fine raconteur, does for bibliomania what James Herriot did for vets. As his previous books, such as Tolkien's Gown, remind us, he has a wealth of quirky stories, and you feel he could keep entertaining his readers for ever * The Times * Entertaining, beautifully written and deeply personal * The Critic * Combines a relish for commerce with tremendous joie de vivre. He loves literature . . . Guarded by Dragons is fresh and fun and bursting with good stories -- Craig Brown * Mail on Sunday * Many entertaining anecdotes . . . Gekoski - a larger-than-life character both on and off the page - writes with style,verve and just the right amount of self-deprecation . . . Gekoski proves a genial companion in the thrill of the chase * Financial Times * Gekoski is wonderful company on the page, with a fine flair for storytelling and an eye for fascinating eccentricities among his colleagues and customers . . . Gekoski lets us in on the intricacies of the trade with candour and insouciance -- John Banville * Irish Times * A cache of engaging tales . . . He is an incredibly gifted storyteller who spins yarns with broad literary appeal . . . Gekoski never fails to amuse and to amaze. Guarded by Dragons is a bibliophilic treasure * Fine Books & Collections magazine *