What happens to an author’s personal library after his death? A reader discovered the answer to this question when she found a used copy of Don DeLillo’s book White Noise in notable Manhattan independent bookstore, The Strand. Once owned by David Markson, this book was one of many of his books floating around the store. The reader’s discovery prompted a search by Markson fans to recollect his library.
But why? Many people contend that an author’s library reveals something about the owner. For instance, Melville read and reread Paradise Lost while writing Moby Dick – an influence that shows in his novel. And yet libraries rarely survive an author’s death intact.
