The New York Observer has picked up on a story broken by E-Reads a month ago speculating on why the New York Public Library was not carrying Rogue’s Gallery, a recently published book by Michael Gross. Rogue’s Gallery is a provocative look at the Metropolitan Museum and contains some observations critical of a leading socialite supporter, Annette de la Renta, who happens to be on the Board of Trustees of the New York Public Library.

Now, New York Observer reporter Reid Pillifant asks, Why Is Gross’ Museum Expose Missing From NYPL Stacks? Pillifant writes,

“When literary agent Richard Curtis and his wife, Leslie, heard about journalist Michael Gross’ unauthorized Metropolitan Museum exposé Rogues’ Gallery, they wanted to check it out. Literally! So they searched the online catalog of the New York Public Library. But the book wasn’t listed. Then they called the library and got ‘kind of a vague answer,’ Mr. Curtis said.

“Then he remembered Rogues’ Gallery had stirred up some controversy regarding Annette de la Renta, who is a trustee of both the Met and the NYPL.”

Here’s an excerpt from our story.

Gross’s book has been widely ignored in the media, and Kornbluth suggests that a sort of Gentleman’s Agreement among heavy-hitter members of de la Renta’s august social circle is the reason why. “I am not a conspiracy theorist,” writes Kornbluth, “but the media coverage — or lack thereof — of this dustup and of ‘Rogues’ Gallery’ could certainly make me think of becoming one.” You can read all about it in Kornbluth’s blog as well as Gross’s own account of the sordid maneuvers to chill his book.

I’m not a conspiracy theorist either, but what started as a routine inquiry about the availability of the book in the New York Public Library system has definitely pushed me several notches closer to paranoia. It seems that the book is simply not there. You can see for yourself by calling your local librarian or visiting the Library’s website and entering the title and author into the Search box.

We’re not the only ones to smell something fishy. Here’s an excerpt from a blog by New York Social Diary‘s Patrick David Columbia:

So what’s the problem? It seems difficult to determine. Some tell Michael he’s being “paranoid.” I’d tell Michael he’s onto something although where it might take him may not be worth the trip.

It is true that there are people in this town who have what is generally recognized as power. Can they kill people? I don’t know about that. Maybe with kindess or a harsh Fifth Avenue froideur.

Annette de la Renta is the name that comes up first and foremost in the Michael Gross/Met biography business.

As of this writing, as confirmed by the Observer‘s Pillifant, there are still no copies available in Manhattan libraries. But I managed to secure a copy anyway, using an ancient but tried and true technique: I bought a copy at a bookstore. Pillifant expresses my dismay at having to resort to a commercial transaction: “As for Mr. Curtis? ‘I paid retail for it, which, for a professional literary agent, is scandalous.’”

My advice? Support the book, the author, and bookstores: do the same. But let your local library know you expect it to carry Rogue’s Gallery.

Richard Curtis