ABC Conversations - Nicola Harrison

When the library burned

Susan Orlean is a staff writer for The New Yorker magazine, the author of The Orchid Thief, and always has her eye out for a good story.

Not long after she moved to Los Angeles, Susan was visiting the Central Library when a librarian mentioned to her, "You can still smell the smoke in some of the books".

In 1986 the library had been almost destroyed by a fire so intense firefighters described its flames as turning clear, like glass.

Police suspected arson, but had no suspects. Then, they began receiving calls about a handsome young man with a big moustache and memorable blonde hair.

Further information

The Library Book is published by Atlantic

Duration: 49min 9sec