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The Art Thief

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The Art Thief

By: Michael Finkel
Narrated by: Edoardo Ballerini
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About this listen

 *#1 New York Times bestseller*

*Shortlisted for The ALCS Gold Dagger Award for Non-Fiction*

'A breath-taking read, as compelling as a Highsmith novel. I loved it' – Maggie O'Farrell

'Brilliant… A thrilling heist caper along the lines of Ocean’s Eleven’ –Sunday Times

‘Gripping' – Observer

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A spellbinding portrait of obsession and flawed genius, from the bestselling author of The Stranger in the Wood.

For centuries, works of art have been stolen in countless ways from all over the world, but no one has been quite as successful at it as the master thief Stéphane Breitwieser. Carrying out more than 200 heists over nearly ten years – in museums and cathedrals all over Europe – Breitwieser, along with his girlfriend who worked as his lookout, stole more than 300 objects, until it all fell apart in spectacular fashion.

In The Art Thief, Michael Finkel brings us into Breitwieser’s strange and fascinating world. Possessed of a remarkable appreciation for art and an innate ability to assess practically any security system, Breitwieser managed to pull off a breathtakingly number of audacious thefts. Yet these strange talents bred a growing disregard for risk and an addict’s need to score, leading Breitwieser to ignore his girlfriend’s pleas to stop – until one final act of hubris brought everything crashing down.

This is a riveting true story of art, crime, and an insatiable hunger to possess beauty at any cost. As a real page-turner that seems almost unbelievable in its twists and turns, The Art Thief explores the true story of the art collector who went to extreme lengths to expand his personal collection – and the thrill of the heist that kept him going.

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‘Thrilling’ – Economist

'Enthralling' – The Wall Street Journal

‘A thrilling read’ – The New Yorker

A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: The Washington Post, The New Yorker, Lit Hub©2023 Michael Finkel. All rights reserved. (P)2023 Penguin Random House Audio US. All Rights Reserved. True Crime Thief Exciting

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All stars
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You must read this book! The antihero is almost incomprehensible but many have tried. ! The closest I can think of is the antihero in Sũsskind’s Parfum. They both identify profoundly with the need to sensually possess a whimsical and deep connection to their prey be it human or created by humans.

What a wonderful book

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An incredible true story, most compelling and hard to put down. It was well read by the author on Audible

A Well Written & Researched Book

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I’m fascinated by art crime and this has to be one of my favourite reads on the subject. Would recommend to art lovers and crime officianados alike.

An addictive read

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This is a well written book AND one of the view I have listened to on audible where the narator reads the book well.

Good book for any art- or crime booklover

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The Art Thief tells the fascinating, sad and disturbing story of a 'sensitive' criminal and his accomplice as they maraud through the small, underprotected galleries and museums of northern Europe. Finkel uses a range of sources, including extensive firsthand interviews, to paint vivid portraits of his protagonists. While he is occasionally prone to laud the audacity of the thefts, he is clear-eyed about the damage they wrought to small museums who prefer to spend their limited budgets on works rather than security. Edoardo Ballerini narrates splendidly. The perfect non-fiction companion to Donna Tartt's The Goldfinch. Highly recommended.

Fascinating, sad and disturbing

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LOVED every second. The narrator was absolutely perfect for this - honestly the best match of story to reader I have ever heard in my 6 years of Audible. The story and the writing is also brilliant. I actually cannot hype this enough. Get it.

Gripping. Great Writing. Brilliantly Read. A perfect score.

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Fascinating and gripping story well narrated. I enjoyed it so much I was sad when it was finished.

Amazing true story

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