{"id":19984,"date":"2023-12-04T16:53:35","date_gmt":"2023-12-04T21:53:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/old.lib.utk.edu\/news\/?p=19984"},"modified":"2023-12-05T15:01:10","modified_gmt":"2023-12-05T20:01:10","slug":"whodunit-library-friends-rare-detective-fiction-on-display-at-grolier-club","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/old.lib.utk.edu\/news\/2023\/12\/whodunit-library-friends-rare-detective-fiction-on-display-at-grolier-club\/","title":{"rendered":"Whodunit? Library friend’s rare detective fiction on display at Grolier Club"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\u201cThe
\u201cThe Murders in the Rue Morgue,\u201d by Edgar Allan Poe, 1841. Poe, in one story, created a new genre of literature. (Courtesy of Jeff Johnson)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Jeff Johnson, past president of the board of UT Libraries\u2019 John C. Hodges Society, has curated an exhibition of rare books at the prestigious Grolier Club.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Founded in 1884, the Grolier Club in New York City is America\u2019s oldest and largest society for bibliophiles and enthusiasts in the graphic arts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Johnson, a lifelong book collector, is particularly partial to mystery and detective novels. His exhibit, Whodunit? Key Books in Detective Fiction<\/em>, includes rare works from the 19th century and early 20th century. All books are from his personal collection, and most are first editions from the author\u2019s home country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Johnson\u2019s narrative for the exhibit presents a history of the detective genre, beginning with the \u201ctrue crime\u201d books of the early 19th century. One early and interesting example would be the Memoirs of Vidocq, Principal Agent of the French Police until 1827<\/em>. Vidocq was a real-life criminal who became, in turn: a police informant; head of the first detective force, Paris\u2019s S\u00fbret\u00e9 Nationale; then the head of the world\u2019s first detective agency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The
The original, serialized version of Charles Dickens\u2019 unfinished novel, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, 1870. Many later writers have attempted to complete the story. (Courtesy of Jeff Johnson)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Johnson notes authors who first introduced tropes that have become recurring themes within the detective fiction genre. American novelist Anna Katherine Green, for instance, set many precedents for future detective fiction: a rich person murdered on the verge of signing a new will, the body in the library, a coroner\u2019s inquest, testimony from expert witnesses, a map of the scene of the crime, and an explanatory chapter wrapping up the mystery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fans of detective fiction can view the exhibit online<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Johnson was an architect with the renowned Knoxville firm McCarty Holsaple McCarty for three decades, retiring from his role as executive vice president and chief financial officer in 2021. As a member of McCarty Holsaple McCarty, he played a leading role in the first major renovation of UT\u2019s John C. Hodges Library in 1987 \u2014 even designing the library\u2019s iconic oak tables.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to serving as president of the UT Libraries\u2019 John C. Hodges Society board, Johnson has been active in many civic organizations. Earlier this year, he was honored with a UT Alumni Service Award<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Jeff Johnson, past president of the board of UT Libraries\u2019 John C. Hodges Society, has curated an exhibition of rare books at the prestigious Grolier Club. Founded in 1884, the Grolier Club in New York City is America\u2019s oldest and largest society for bibliophiles and enthusiasts in the graphic arts. Johnson, a lifelong book collector, … Continued<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":48,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[24,1],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nWhodunit? Library friend's rare detective fiction on display at Grolier Club - News - News from the University of Tennessee Knoxville Libraries<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow\" \/>\n<meta name=\"googlebot\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta name=\"bingbot\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/old.lib.utk.edu\/news\/2023\/12\/whodunit-library-friends-rare-detective-fiction-on-display-at-grolier-club\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Whodunit? Library friend's rare detective fiction on display at Grolier Club - News - News from the University of Tennessee Knoxville Libraries\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Jeff Johnson, past president of the board of UT Libraries\u2019 John C. 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