The Collyer Brothers
E.L. Doctorow talks to Jane Ciabattari about his astounding new novel, Homer & Langley, and making New York’s strangest pair of brothers come alive.
Murray Becker / AP Photo
The Collyer brothers' house in Harlem, New York, 1942.
Murray Becker / AP Photo
Detectives bend over to examine the body of Langley Collyer, which was discovered in the same room as the body of his blind brother, Homer, on March 21, 1947. Police believed that he was the victim of one of his own booby traps.
John Lindsay / AP Photo
Officials from the New York City Police point to a “booby trap” box that was set to topple all the rubbish if disturbed.
Anthony Camerano / AP Photo
Piles of hoarded things that lay in the home of Langley and Homer Collyer.
Bettman / Corbis
A policeman throws rubbish from the roof of the Collyer mansion as other policemen search the top floor looking for Langley Collyer.
Anthony Camerano / AP Photo
Much of the treasure hoarded by Homer and Langley wound up on the auction block. Shown here are some of the bidders on June 10, 1947.
AP Photo
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