Stolen Words

Thomas Mallon. Penguin Books, $9.95 (320pp) ISBN 978-0-14-014440-6

Mallon discusses texts that are suspiciously similar, cites specific cases of plagiarism and concludes that literary predators are recidivistic, while society is reluctant to punish them. ``Although ably researched and enthusiastic and clever in tone, the book has an uneasy mix of topics that may preclude its finding an audience,'' suggested PW. (Feb.)

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