Paul Collins, Literary Detective (SCOWAH Chronicles, no. 2)

Paul Collins is a literary detective who digs up the dirt on obscure characters and little known historical figures. If it’s quirky and forgotten, Paul Collins won’t be far behind with his literary shovel. His first monographic foray into the field of curious characters began with Banvard’s Folly (2001), which first appeared in McSweeneys, no.3. Part of the research for the book was done in the San Francisco Public Library, where material on the eighteenth century imposter George Psalmanazar may be found. Other curiosities, including the Shakespeare forger William Henry Ireland and proverbial philosopher Martin Tupper (on display in The Objects of Our Affection: Wonderful Characters from the Schmulowitz Collection of Wit & Humor) became rich fodder for Collins and fascinating reading for the rest of us.

A love of unusual antiquarian books drew Collins and his family to the wee bookselling town of Haye-on-Wye, in Wales; for a year they lived among the folk and books (the books out-numbered the folk), adventures which resulted in his memoir Sixpence House (2003). Next up, Not Even Wrong (2004), a personal and historical journey into the world of autism. Collins discovered the story behind Peter, the Wild Boy, and traces his steps from childhood to burial, just as he traces the journey of his own child. His tragic-comedy The Trouble with Tom: The Strange Afterlife and Times of Thomas Paine (2005) takes the reader through the many places at home and abroad that hold the bones of Revolutionary War hero and pamphleteer Tom Paine. The saga of William Shakespeare’s first folio is detailed in The Book of William (2009). His latest trip into the field of curious history is the newly published The Murder of the Century: The Gilded Age Crime that Scandalized a City & Sparked the Tabloid Wars. Paul Collins is the editor of the Collins Library Imprint for McSweeney’s Books. He appears on NPR’s Weekend Edition and his articles may be read in Lapham’s Quarterly, The Believer, The New York Times, Cabinet, and other periodicals. 

The Rare Book Room, Book Arts & Special Collections, SFPL

SCOWAH Chronicles is a series of profiles featuring some of our favorite characters, based on the exhibition The Objects of Our Affection: Wonderful Characters from the Schmulowitz Collection of Wit & Humor. Every year on April Fool's Day the San Francisco Public Library presents a themed exhibition celebrating this extraordinary collection. On view now in the Skylight Gallery, Sixth Floor, through May 31.