London A-Z: Britain’s Most Stolen Book

Travel Blog  •  Eva Holland  •  02.12.09 | 12:47 PM ET

Think of it as a glimpse into the literary tastes of the light-fingered. The Times of London has compiled a list of Britain’s most stolen books—and, as it turns out, thieves really have a thing for maps. The venerable London street atlas, London A-Z, won top honors. Said one independent bookstore owner: “I’ve been in bookselling for 20 years and the London A-Z is the most stolen book in the world ... A-Zs were like porn—you had to keep them under the till.” The “A-Z” wasn’t the only hot travel item on the most-wanted list, either. Ordnance maps and surveys landed in the no. 2 slot, Lonely Planet guides were the fifth-most-stolen books in Britain last year, and squeaking in at no. 10 was the Official Highway Code. (Via The Book Bench)

Tags: Tres Loco, Europe, England, London, Literary Travel

Eva Holland is co-editor of World Hum. She is a former associate editor at Up Here and Up Here Business magazines, and a contributor to Vela. She's based in Canada's Yukon territory.


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