On my bookshelf

The Keeper of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan is a work of fiction that I believe every museum professional should read, regardless of their situation or role in an organisation. This book puts objects and people at the forefront – something that we, as museum professionals, would do well to remember. 

Hogan’s debut novel is not the typical book that would feature on an academic reading list. But it is genuine. The novel begins with the character of Anthony Peardew recounting his collection of lost things and objects. 

He has spent half his life lovingly collecting lost objects, trying to atone for a promise broken many years before. Indeed, he is a contemporary keeper who salvages lost items. Some may say he’s a collector, others may argue he’s more of a hoarder.

Peardew has an interest in people’s lost belongings. He allows readers to vicariously live these stories and the emotions associated with the objects. As he nears the end of his life, he bequeaths his collection to his housekeeper, Laura. Through persistence and perseverance, Laura, the gardener Freddy, and a 19-year-old girl, Sunshine, who lives across the street, set out to reunite people with their lost belongings. 

What is interesting about Hogan’s approach is her use of Sunshine as a medium for the objects. The lives and stories seem to pass through her whenever she touches an object, an unconventional gift that emphasises the importance of the collection. 

They are no longer lost items but treasured objects that relay a story, a memory or emotion. This is something we can all relate to as museum professionals in our work bringing collections to life.