Patti Smith pitches in to help burgled Oregon bookshop

Poet, singer and memoirist – honoured this week by PEN for ‘literary service’ – sends signed first editions after learning of thefts at Portland store

The poet and punk-rock star Patti Smith has added another string to her bow: bookshop defender. After reading about a break-in at an independent bookshop in Oregon, the musician got in touch to offer her help.

Last month, burglars smashed display cases in Portland’s Passages bookshop and stole more than 100 rare and valuable volumes, including Smith’s complete lyrics, forcing owner David Abel to shut up shop for the next two weeks. Some of the books, he said, were irreplaceable.

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