No comments about Crimes of the Art World.

5 comments about Unholy Business: A True Tale of Faith, Greed and Forgery in the Holy Land.

1. I really want to give UNHOLY BUSINESS three and a half stars. Since Amazon won't let me do that and since I really did enjoy the book, I decided to round up to four. I found the book interesting and informative (and even enjoyable), but the writing is a little sloppy.
   
   In UNHOLY BUSINESS, Nina Burleigh investigates the antiquities trade in Israel/Palestine. She explains the quasi-legal nature of the trade and introduces the reader to the various people involved: scholars, religious devotees, looters, dealers, buyers, and the Israeli authorities. While she paints a picture of the whole, her narrative focuses on one particular fraud case. For American readers, the "James Ossuary" is the most notable artifact involved in the case (though many others are under suspicion).
   
   I found the book fast paced and extremely interesting (although I'm interested in the topic). Burleigh treats all the parties involved in a fair manner (perhaps excepting Herschel Shanks). She navigates the potentially volatile religious and political difficulties involved in the case well. She does a good job of not picking any sides in the Israeli/Palestinian conflict or in the differences between Jews, Christians, and Muslims (as well as the various sects within those communities).
   
   Unfortunately, the prose seems a little rushed. The book contains a few sloppy typos and minor factual errors. Burleigh tends to repeat the same descriptions (sometimes word-for-word) of people and unfamiliar objects. She also has the somewhat annoying habit of introducing a person with his or her marital status. I suppose this tactic makes the people seem more "real," but by the end of the book it comes across as mechanical, like something they taught her in journalism class that she just can't stop doing.
   
   But like I said, overall, I enjoyed the book.



2. As numerous other reviewers have noted, this book is written by a person who's not well-versed in any of the subjects that she's chosen to cover: Israel, Christianity, Biblical history, archaeology, and so on. So, for an amateur, she does a decent job of marshalling the facts and meeting some of the leading personalities. But she doesn't add any information nor insight to the challenging story.
   
   The story, in a nutshell, is that a purported discovery of an ossuary (ceremonial box that contained bones of a deceased person) of James, brother of Jesus, was judged to be a hoax. The notoriety of the alleged find raised a curtain on the often-shady dealings of the world's leading purveyors of Holy Land relics -- both the dealers and also the buyers of these relics, who have their own motivations of pride and money for not wanting to admit when they have been fooled.
   
   The author steps into this story after it's ended, and she tries to interview the principals, such as the man who had the James ossuary in his possession for 20 years and used it as a kitty litter box, more or less. She visits with billionaire Israeli collectors, with relics police in Israel and the Occupied Territories, and with experts in biblical writing and historical interpretation. They each share their story and their perspective on the astoundingly seamy business of digging up antiquities and selling the common ones to tourists and the rare ones to museums and collectors. Along the way, we find out that relic hunting has exploded in the last 20 years, due to an influx of demand from evangelical Christians who want proof of the bible's stories, and due to the impoverishment of Palestinians who feed the demand for relics.
   
   The problem is that the author inserts herself into the story, as if we need to be impressed that she netted these interviews and got to take these trips to archaeological sites. While I'm sure it was fascinating for her, we don't need all the "I" references, and they detract from the facts she's bringing to the fore. (They are somewhat effective when she uses them to reference the sights, sounds and smells of Jerusalem's varied parts of town.)
   
   The other problem is that the author hasn't really uncoverd enough for a book. That's why she fills the book with so many as-I-was-there impressionistic language, and why she repeats herself. It's also possible that her training at People Magazine has led her to believe that readers can't remember a fact from five pages back, so she must re-introduce even basic information again and again. But it's tedious for anyone who can read beyond a high school level.
   
   In sum, if you want a breezy book that sums up what was an interesting religious scandal a few years ago, pick up this book at the library. If you really want to learn about what's known about the Bible, go elsewhere -- and use this book as a reference about whom you can trust.



3. No point in competing with the many probing critiques of this book already posted here. Just want to express annoyance at Ms. Burleigh's sometimes cavalier approach to hard facts, surprising in a writer who aims to debunk superstitions and frauds. Just one example. On page 39 appears this sentence:
   
   "Six months later, I met [in Jerusalem] with Ganar [Israeli detective, previously spelled Ganor] again as masked Hamas gunmen took over Gaza a few hundred miles away."
   
   The distance from Jerusalem to Gaza is 48 miles. Was Ms. Burleigh elsewhere when they met? Was her mind elsewhere when she neglected to check her own copy? Reading today's poorly edited books is often an unholy business itself.



4. In Unholy Business, journalist Nina Burleigh uses the story of the James Ossuary, a purported relic supporting the historical existence of Jesus that is now widely believed to be a forgery, as a hook on which to hang a broader portrait of the complex intersection between archaeological study of the history of the Holy Land and faith and politics in the present day. The book reads like an extended magazine investigative profile more than a formal history, with Burleigh interested in sketching the main players on the scene (including archaeologists, dealers in relics, collectors, police investigators, Israeli and Palestinian partisans, and believers of all stripes) and providing a broad feel for how discovery and study of relics dating from ancient Israel and the birth of Christianity has such a profound influence on modern concerns about faith and the political status of Israel and Palestine (with Jerusalem at the center). The result is fast-paced, entertaining, and thought-provoking (especially when it comes to how non-objective scholarly analysis can be when the data are marginal and human emotions are at play). I found her treatment of the people involved even-handed. Given the explosive issues she addressed, I am not surprised that other reviewers do not agree on this point. The book (of which I read the uncorrected proofs) would also benefit from the inclusion of pictures and a more definitive conclusion (which, in the author's defense, may not happen for some time, as the forgery trial drags on in Israel). Still, I recommend Unholy Business as an interesting introduction to the world of Holy Land relics and high-level art-historical forgery.



5. Having just returned from the Biblical Archaeology Society's annual conference, this topic is fresh in my mind. The James Ossuary is the matter of controversy and legal wrangling; it is very much a matter of who knows what, when, where, and how. The James Ossuary is an artifact that was found, reportedly (and most likely) years, perhaps decades ago, without realizing what it was. An ossuary is a bone box -- tombs were often family affairs, and after a body had decomposed, it was more compactly stored in a vessel such as this. There is an inscription on this particular one, James (Jacob, or Yacob -- yes, the Hebrew is rendered into James as well as Jacob in English) son of Joseph, but then the controversy ensues as there is another addition, 'brother of Jesus (Yeshua, or Joshua)'. The 'brother of Jesus' portion is the larger part of the controversy, as scholars and legal officials looked to discover whether this was a later addition to the inscription, or if the entire inscription was a forgery or late(r) addition to the ossuary. Could this be the bone-box of the brother of Jesus mentioned in the New Testament? If so, this would constitute the first direct physical evidence of Jesus.
   
   Burleigh's book is a reasonable, quick-to-press book that looks at this controversy (still ongoing) as well as a few instances of fraud and controversy, as well as the general community of scholars, antiquities collectors, dealers, and officials empowered to oversee the whole enterprise. This is not a book that gives the final word on the James Ossuary conflict, but it does help as a play-book for recognizing the characters who are involved. The book is also written in a journalistic style that is easy to follow, and thus perhaps more interesting to the general public than the typical archaeological report.
   
   Perhaps the main issue to take from this is the importance of control of the antiquities market and the security of dig sites and archaeology. This is a past that in many ways belongs to all of us; it is world cultural heritage that is at risk when important sites are left unguarded. Also, the problem of fraud is compounded when there is no way of verifying the origins of pieces; had the James Ossuary been found in a controlled and documented dig, the controversy would be much less over this piece.
   
   In all, a reasonable book for understanding a bit more about the James Ossuary conflict in particular, and the antiquities and archaeology enterprises in general.

5 comments about Secrets of a Back Alley ID Man: Fake ID Construction Techniques of the Underground.

1. Finally. A novelty ID construction book that deals with the meat of ID construction. Refreshingly, two chapters WERE NOT dedicated to lamination. I think we all know how to laminate.

   MUCH ATTENTION was paid to creating holograms (something we actually need to learn).

   The research was obvoiusly thorough and comprehensive. The author does not take credit for ideas that aren't his. All his sources are properly credited (though usually anonymously by request of the source). But, hey, it shows CLASS.

   VERY REFRESHING slant for a genre that has of late been falling into the trap of selling titles. This book as REAL SUBSTANCE.

   An excellent reference source for anybody interested in this art. Also great for writers who need to research underworld maneuvers for their "villain" characters.

   Thank you, Mr. Charrett!!!!




2. This is an excellent book for someone wanting to delve into id replication, and techniques. The author is very knowledgeable on the topic he discusses in this book. From start to finish, it leaves you with a very clear understanding of the methods used to create a means of identification. Fair warning, and as he states in the book, it isn't meant for someone attempting to purchase or obtain alcohol. The book does not go into detail on every state, better yet, it focuses on information that will actually help you make an id. Full of resources and techniques, this book is an EXCELLENT guide for someone with the incentive of making an id.



3. I just finished reading this book, and I loved it! I must admit I was skeptical before I ordered because we have all been scammed at one time or another. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find out that I had NOT been ripped off this time! This book lives up to the hype and does not disappoint the reader. The knowledge of the author is complete on the subjects discussed, detailed instruction is given, and (most importantly!) common pitfalls are exposed. I found myself exclaiming out loud "Wow, THAT little tidbit alone is worth the cost of this book." about six or seven time throughout my reading. I also would like to add that if you are interested in this kind of thing, this book is a great learning tool, a good place to start. Thanks Sheldon, for a well written, (often hilarious) informative, eye-opening book.



4. I really did like this book, it does have a wealth of information which can be APPLIED to more modern techniques, and generally just gets you thinking in different directions as a book like this should. But given todays climate and the fact that every state has improved security tremendously around IDs and ID cards and even birth certificates, unless you want to try your hand with a laminated Maine ID and or birth certificate printed on improper paper (and probably end up in jail), this may not be the best resource to follow word for word any longer. I didnt like the fact that he barely delved into the new world of teslin and pvc credit card hologramed high quality state IDs (if at all actually) as I feel that you would have to in a book of this nature today, but overall there are some worth while "ideas" in this book that have helped me get a bit better in the real world. Id recommend, but with a bit of caution depending on what your planning on doing, or not doing (*wink*).



5. In a word, awesome! This is a practical guide to actual assembly techniques. Little time is spent discussing when or why someone would do what the author tells you how to do. Other books cover those tasks quite well. I'm sure all this info is dated, but it's still quite informative.

5 comments about The Great Zapruder Film Hoax: Deceit and Deception in the Death of JFK.

1. There can be no review of a book this bad. Fetzer has cut-and-pasted together a series of these horrid little volumes, hoping the catchy titles sell a few thousand copies to the unsuspecting curious.
   
   All of Fetzer's books on the Kennedy assassination are of this nature. Don't waste one dollar on a used copy.
   
   Read people like Summers or Joesten if you want to understand why so many thoughtful people have consigned The Warren Report to the trash, the same place Fetzer's work belongs.



2. It was filmed before a live audience .When some of the "witnesses", didn't respond to the gunshots and the aftermath,it just adds credence to a vast conspiracy theory.Zapruder handed over the film.And had to legally fight to get it back.The filmed shooting clearly shows the upper-right side of JFK's head ,being removed.So,why were the released autopsy photos,showing an exit wound having grazed the very top right-side of JFK's head? Two top autopsy doctors reported that JFK's top right-side and brain were imploded and expeled onto the limo's trunk.Later,their stories were recanted and rectified to stating that Kennedy's brain was removed and stored for further examination.When RFK found out about this,he ordered it returned.Yet,the doctors then stated the JFK brain was now "lost and misplaced" . It appears that the CIA monkeyed with the Zapruder film, by removing some frames.The film clearly shows JFK being hit ,from the back ,reaching for his throat, bullit possibly going forward to hit Connelly's back scapula and raising wrist.All body-hits in a split second ,at close-range and at street level.The close-range shot did not impede the bullit's progress.This adds support to a police-escourt shooter ,being involved. Zapruder seemed shakened by the whole experience.I think some of audience,at the Ford's Theatre 1865,also knew the evening's comedy would unfold into live tragedy,before their very eyes.



3. This book describes the results of painstaking work by Fetzer and others, using simple tools of geometry and measurements of the still-existing concrete structures at Dealey Plaza in Dallas, to prove that the Zapruder film was heavily and professionally modified to show an incorrect series of events.
   
   Fetzer et. al. got started on to path to their discovery when they noticed a few years ago that the photo taken by one of the girls shown in the background of the Zapruder film contained a sight line that would only be correct if the girl (Moorman) was standing on the street next to the curb. Yet, the Zapruder film inexplicably was showing the girl standing on the grass above the curb. Which was correct? Looking first at the Moorman photo, the researchers were able to establish that the perspective in the original photo taken by Moorman had not been altered after the photo was taken since that photo had been published worldwide by the wire services within an hour after the assassination. Then, working backwards, using simple geometry and careful survey measurements they were able to determine the exact spot where Moorman stood when she snapped her picture, which turned out to be 2 feet into the street next to the curb, just as she had said in her signed, sworn, statement to the police on the day of the assassination. The authors showed that it is a physical impossibility for Moorman to have taken her photo from the position on the grass, approximately 12 inches higher in elevation, where she is shown in the Zapruder film. With that as a starting point, the researchers were able to show that there were other alterations in the Zapruder film including two missing sequences of frames, a series of altered frames (including those with Moorman) where the back ground has been cut, enlarged 130 percent, and repasted into modified frames, and a series of frames modified with a slightly relocated freeway sign, apparently to obscure something taking place behind the sign.
   
   I started off reading this book with deep skepticism over the claim implied by its title but after seeing the results of their work, they have proven every one of their claims without leaving room for even a shadow of doubt.
   
   This is a classic real-life detective story that is fascinating reading. The best evidence that Kennedy was killed by a conspiracy is now the very existence of the doctored-up Zapruder film since only a large conspiracy would have had the physical and technical resources to do such a thing in 1963. Certainly the original suspect in the crime, Lee Harvey Oswald, would not have been able to produce the doctored film and he would not have cared anyway since he was himself killed two days after the crime.
   
   Does the crime matter anymore? Probably not since after 42 years, all of the players in the conspiracy are either dead or in a nursing home but it's still important to establish the truth, even for a crime from the distant past, and Fetzer has done this in superb fashion. This work will finally bring closure to the troubling assassination for those who read it.



4. I mean common
   
   The government planting listening devices in Dealy Plaza to spy on researchers?? movable light poles to make reconstructions impossible. lines painted longer to make matching photos impossible???? I fail to understand how any of this nonsense even got published.
   
   Completely ridiculous volume and author best skip it
   
   Gary



5. Lt Cmmd william Pitzer "Committed suicide" within 2 weeks of retiring from the Navy with 30 years in. He was in charge of Television Division of the Navy Hospital, the hospital that the Kennedy autopsy happened at. Pitzer had filmed the autopsy via CCTV. He told a co-worker that the autopsy film showed a wound in the right frontal area. Pitzer Died in his work studio on base...so his death was not investigated by civil police, it was NCIS. Years later two Special Forces guys came forth and recounted how a CIA agent had requested that they take out Pitzer, said he was a traitor selling secrets to the enemy. They refused as they were not going to kill on US soil. Pitzer was MURDERED. If there was NO conspiracy then why was Pitzer murdered? (1966)

5 comments about Stealing History: Tomb Raiders, Smugglers, and the Looting of the Ancient World.

1. There is nothing to add to the detailed analyses of this book previously detailed, except:
   Know what you are buying: This book is 95% about the author
   's experiences excavating at Sipan; as well as some discussion regarding other sites in northern Peru.
   If this is what you want, it is an excellent book; however, it, in no way. is a more general discussion of its title and subtitle.
   I was really hoping for a more extensive discussion regarding the many other sites around the world. So, in this difference, I would only give it one star.
   Just know what you are buying.
   I am keeping the book; however it's lack of what the title promised, and the many other sources that are available regarding
   Peruvian (and particularly Sipan) resulted in my being very disappointed in its restricted coverage in contrast to its title.



2. This is a great, GREAT book, but it essentially only covers the excavation and robbing of archaelogical sites in Sipan (Peru). The author does try to make some cross-comparison, but it is apparent that he is not nearly as familiar with other areas of exploration, such as Iraq. However, it is a fantastic exploration of an example of what is currently happening with "open" archaelogical sites. Like the book cover indicates, it also has a lot of fun detective/police chase stuff. The real life characters in this saga are fascinating. Worth a read!



3. Though the author limited the scope of the book to the Sipan site in Peru, he does a fascinating job of describing the unique relationship between looters, smugglers, antiquies dealers, collectors, museums, and politics. And Atwood does it all by telling the tale as if it were a story, not just facts and figures regarding the antiquities market. Other than his political views coming through a little too much in certain sections, the book was a great read and hard to put down!



4. This book is a must-read for any archaeology student. I agree with other reviewers that the title is somewhat misleading, however the author uses the site of Sipan only as a case study. He includes information about many other sites and legal cases as they fit in with topics covered in the case study. The best part of this book is that the author actually offers plausible suggestions for solving the problem, not just complaining about it. I am, of course, against tomb robbing, but I also value the material available in museums. I recomend that readers also look into the museum and collector's positions in order to form your own opinion. This book is very persuasive (especially the photos), but I would still try to keep an open mind.



5. In the area of antiquity theft this book is a tour de force, a fast-paced revelation of the dark side of the modern world of antiques. Stealing antiquities in Iraq under battleground conditions, stealing them at night with tomb robbers in Peru, stealing them by lobbying in the US capitol, and stealing them by international, high stakes illicit, money-laundering operations funded by organized crime, you name it, the sky's the limit for Atwood. The most rewarding part of this book is in the last few chapters where Atwood advances solutions. They necessarily deal with legal language, model legislation and proposals for change and they are ambitious and pitched at the global level, but they are bound to put a dent in a great deal of the illegal action. In his book Atwood shows how museums will have to change their ways, dealers will have to give up part of a lucrative business, and governments will have to enact legislation without succumbing to pressure from the antiquities lobbies, and "...unless changes come, the current system will deprive everyone whoever will live of part of the collective memory that makes us human."
   
   One drawback of his book is that it concentrates on Peru, though he includes a great section on repatriation of the Parthenon marbles. In the process of researching that subject, he elicited a statement in an interview with the director of the British Museum that puts the Museum's position in a nutshell, in that the marbles, "...have a purpose here which they can fulfill nowhere else..."

5 comments about The Medici Conspiracy: The Illicit Journey of Looted Antiquities-- From Italy's Tomb Raiders to the World's Greatest Museums.

1. Have been waiting for some time to read this book, and I really enjoyed it. Of course I like art-related mysteries and other stories anyway. I'll be looking for other titles by this author.



2. I give this book a definite four stars because it is a worthy representation of the story and gives the account of what happened with great zeal. The topic itself is fascinating. In my opinion, various Federal Art/Cultural Property Crime units would be well served by making this book mandatory reading for their agents. It stands as a clear insight into the dark realm of unlawful antiquities excavation, illicit smuggling and clandestine sale- an increasingly important issue in our "global economy" world where buyers and sellers can come together across oceans with little effort, and without regard to laws that may govern certain antiquities transactions.
   
   At times, it reads a bit choppy. A lot of this has to do with the fact that the authors were careful to include all pertinent data, instead of sacrificing the volume of fact for the sake of the story. I almost feel bad detracting a star for this, but if you're going to sell a book as a story rather than an academic study, I do believe certain concessions should be made for ease of reading.
   
   Nevertheless, still a great book, well worth purchasing. This book will probably become one of the classics on the topic of art smuggling and the attendant markets.



3. This book is a well written, well researched book about looted antiquities. I recommend it to anyone who is interested in the subject, or anyone interested in looted art in general. If I have any complaint, it is that the book at times gives too much information, which slows down the pace of the narrative as the author reveals how the investigation of Medici, Robert Hecht, Robin Symes, Marion True, and others came to pass.



4. This book is fascinating and important reading for anyone interested in the intersections of the art world, commerce and crime. The Medici Conspiracy is not the most deftly written, and at times seems more like a very, very, very long newspaper story than a book. Yet in the end the sheer force of the information it compiles, with detail and comprehension of the larger picture, leads to confidence in its conclusion: It is impossible to build, in modern times, a great collection of quality antiquities without relying chiefly on, and feeding and sustaining, unlawful traffic in looted items. The archeological countries also are at fault: If you leave hugely valuable items in the ground, and don't invest in excavating them under secure, academically and legally sound conditions, it is inevitable that illicit looters will do it for you.



5. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about stolen antiquities. It reads like a thriller - it does have a lot of details, as others have mentioned, and the authors do become very indignant at times, but I believe this is because the book was published a few years ago, when museums still dragged their feet to send looted art back to Italy, and it was not yet clear in the media whether the Italians had a case or were just being annoying.
   
   I first heard about the controversy in ARTNews, which takes pride in unbiased reporting, and even then, it was difficult not to feel at the beginning that the Italians were asking for too much because they were targeting so many American museums. Watson and Todeschini set out to present the Italians' case to the readers and needed an extensive description of the paper trail to avoid the appearance of bias. This might be unnecessary now that so many museums have caved in and returned art to Italy, but it was definitely important to include all these details in 2006 when the hardcover edition of the book was published in the States.
   
   I was impressed by the flowing, accessible style, and the authors' ability to make protagonists come to life. The book has left me with a better understanding of the current art scene, especially regarding dealers and curators, and of the issues surrounding looted antiquities. A tour-de-force.

5 comments about The Mormon Murders.

1. Mark Hofmann w/m 12/7/54 counterfeiter, forger, murderer. Married- 4 kids.
   
   On 10-15-85 Steven Christensen and Kathy Sheets were killed by pipe bombs in Salt Lake City. Why were they killed? For the answer to that question you have to take a look the faithless Mormon church hater Mark Hofmann.
   
   All his life Mark had questions about the Mormon church and they never got answered. When he became a document examiner and collector he found a way to hurt the church. He began to forg documents that would shame the church should they become public. He also saw this as a way to make lots of money.
   
   He sold the Prophet --THE ANTHON TRANSCRIPT, JOSEPH SMITH III BLESSING, SALAMANDER LETTER,FAR WEST LETTER & THE STOWELL LETTER to name a few. After these documents were purchased they were hidden in the church vaults never to be seen again.
   
   Mark killed Steven because he was pressing him to deliver promised items and he killed Kathy as a diversion. The next day a bomb he was going to deliver blew up in his car.
   
   It is unknown who the 3rd bomb was for. Mark has said he was going to commit suicide. I don't believe him.
   
   He was sent to prison for stealing from church leaders and 2cts of 2nd degree murder. No one except a few detectives seemed interested in prosecuting the case (not the county,state or the feds). Everyone's desire seemed to be..PROTECT THE CHURCH at all costs. This I found very very sad.
   
   Now--Mark is in the prison in Draper Utah. His cell mate is Dan Lafferty who blood atoned his sister in law and her baby. Mark at one time tried to commit suicide and laid on his right arm for 12 hours and by the time he was discovered he had lost the use of the arm. Dorie/wife divorced him and she calls herself a life counselor. Gary Sheets has re-married and has been married for 18 years. Terri Christensen has been married and divorced 2x. Life goes on for everyone except Steven and Kathy.
   
   This is very good book. It is very long and bogs down a little when they are talking about court but otherwise it will hold your attention. It has 19 photos.
   
   Collecting Mormon documents is a big business and many people engage in it. In this book you will meet all kinds of interesting people. Mark not only forged church documents he also forged money and famous peoples signatures. It is unknown just how many bad documents are still out there.
   
   Let me tell you the kind of man Mark is .. when the coroner is discussing in court the damage that the pipe bomb with nails did to Steven.......Mark has an orgasm !



2. I have read almost every book on this subject and there are many better and more even handed. I especially recommend Salamander: The Story of the Mormon Forgery Murders by Linda Sillitoe and Victims: THE LDS CHURCH AND THE MARK HOFMANN CASE by Richard E. Turley. I did enjoy the fleshing out of some of the collatural players in the events.
   
   This book has issues with the facts, the timeline as well as embellishing statments of some of the key players in the story. The continual misrepresentation of some of the events, caused me to question all the information in the book.
   
   In addition, the barely veiled animous that the authors show for the police, the prosecutors and the LDS Church also colored the remaining material. It was not that it was all false, but the numerous mistakes causes one to question the entire work.



3. I would not call this book history, more like historical fiction. Why? Because the authors state "facts" then hypothesize what may have happened behind closed doors, then act like their ideas are facts, with no proof. If you can get past the nonsense, the book is a good read. But if you cut out the guess work and conjecture, the book will get cut in half.



4. It's a very, very interesting story. Active Mormons will be offended by chapter 14, where the temple ceremony (pre-1990) is explained in detail (with some minor errors). But overall, I enjoyed the book very much so.



5. I ordered this book in the hopes that it would be a well-researched, balanced account of what happened. I was very disappointed to see the obvious prejudice and bias of the authors. The presence of an index but complete lack of reference material was also disappointing. The book was filled with stereotypes and generalities which I felt detracted from what could've been a very interesting book.

5 comments about The Forger's Spell: A True Story of Vermeer, Nazis, and the Greatest Art Hoax of the Twentieth Century.

1. The publisher demands the same price for the Kindle edition as for the print edition despite the obvious manufacturing economies and the investment that readers have to make in their Kindles. Moreover, Kindle books cannot be lent to friends or others; the pagination precludes citation of the work. This is publishers myopia that will bring about the demise of an industry unless they wake up and smell the coffee.
   
   I already own the print edition but wanted to be able to carry it more readily. To make me pay for a second copy for this purpose when the marginal cost to the publisher is no more than the concession they have to pay Amazon is patently outrageous.



2. I found this book most interesting. I am an art lover, but certainly no expert. I just know what I like and I enjoy reading about the art world.
   What I found fascinating about this book was not just the story of the forger van Meegeren or even how Goering was duped, but how supposed experts were duped as well. The psychological aspects of how and why art critics and dealers cannot see beyond a terrible forgery made for very interesting reading, and I daresay are as true today as during the time of this narrative.
   I loved the fact that so many so-called experts were (and continue to be) fooled by worthless imitations, therefore putting a big hole in the pretentiousness of so many in the art world.
   In the end, this is not just a story of van Meegeren. It sheds light on some of the more unsavory aspects of the art world, and why people in that world act as they do.



3. This is the delightful, fascinating, and true story of how a little-known painter duped the titans of art. A David and Goliath tale that details how he did it - not once, but repeatedly - and suckered 30 million dollars out of the art world. In a light-hearted way, the author reveals and explores in detail the facets of human nature that allowed this to happen to sophisticated critics. It was all very logical and very human. As the story progresses, it is hard to avoid the feeling that the reader might have easily made the same mistakes. The story gives a good run-down on the art world, Nazi-occuppied Holland, and the rapacious art "collecting" by Hitler and Goering (one of those duped). It is a fun book, full of astounding suprises.



4. I cannot read the 8 point typeface.....I know it is a good book- but since I can't read the tiny print, I cannot rate it.
   Lolly Anderson
   
   I wish I could return it!!!!!!!!!!!!!



5. The Forger's Spell explains how a man faked a series of Vermeer paintings in the early 20th century and why the world bought into them. One of the fakes was even hailed as the greatest Vermeer of all.
   
   Mr. Dolnick provides a thorough examination of the personalities involved, the physical hurdles that the forger had to overcome to create his fakes, and also explores the psychology that allowed the paintings to be accepted as genuine.
   
   The Forger's Spell is an amazing true story.

5 comments about Provenance: How a Con Man and a Forger Rewrote the History of Modern Art.

1. Provenance becomes a fast read as you quickly turn the pages to find out how this outrageous scam scheme was pulled off. The characters are wonderful and what a bird's eye view into the world of art, galleries and museums! Even if you do not have alot of interest in these areas the book will hold your attention as the mystery unravels. I have both lent my book to friends and ordered copies for presents.



2. "Provenance" is the account of one of the greatest cons in the history of art. About 240 forged paintings were produced, many selling for hundreds of thousands of dollars, and netting overall about 2 million pounds over nine years. Many are still considered genuine and hang in prominent places. The authors reveal that museums not only display art, but also assemble and maintain a chain of ownership for the works of the authors they display; funding this effort, however, is difficult and became key to the fraud detailed in the book.
   
   The action begins with a museum reception for Dr. John Drewe, professor of nuclear physics and art connoisseur, who has just donated two 'valuable decades-old' paintings to the museum. Dr. Drewe is accompanied by his 'research assistant' John Myatt, who is shocked to realize that he had just finished painting the valuable donated paintings. Myatt strongly protests to Drewe that the subterfuge will certainly be discovered by the museum's curators, and gets Drewe to withdraw the donation on the grounds that he'd just learned of potential problems with their documentation. Dr. Drewe instead substitutes a $20,000 donation, with promises of another $500,000 later for the museum's provenance work. The point of Dr. Drewe's generosity was to gain access to the museum's records.
   
   Dr. Drewe and Myatt had met four years prior when Drewe responded to Myatt's ad for reproductions. Myatt had just been abandoned by his wife, along with with two babies in diapers, and was short of money. Dr. Drewe commissioned a copy, and their relationship grew over time. Meanwhile, world art prices began soaring. Myatt, in turn, switched from making copies to creating original paintings in the style of the more valued artists he was mimicking; doing so, he carefully researched the style and peculiarities of the artists he was emulating. At first he was unaware that Drewe was selling his reproductions and creations as authentic.
   
   Buyers became increasingly demanding of proof of authenticity as prices increased. Fortunately for the con artists, Drewe was now well-positioned to comply - both creating fake entries within the museum records (loose-leaf binders were used) for Myatt's heretofore non-existent paintings, and also using the records to compile credible-looking receipts and other records - again, from both real and invented collectors. Dr. Drewe used computers, old typewriters, and a scanner to revise old photographic records. (Museum security focused on people taking things out; it was especially lax regarding donors.)
   
   Dr. Drewe's cons, however, are not limited to art - he also attempts to con his common-law wife (Batsheva Goudsmit) out of her real estate holdings, has her declared insane (she loses her job as a pediatric eye specialist), and takes custody of the two children. Myatt, on the other hand, eventually concluded that Dr. Drewe was insane (outlandish stories, dealing with guns) and cheating him, and Myatt then refuses to have anything more to do with Drewe.
   
   In the middle of all this a strange fire and death occurs at an apartment owned by Drewe's common-law wife. Investigators meet with Batsheva and she tells them the dead person was probably blackmailing Dr. Drewe - 'something to do with art forgeries,' and later gives investigators Drewe's briefcase, loaded with strange receipts, clippings, art books, etc. Eventually Dr. Drewe is arrested for art fraud and exposed as never having gone past high school. Between Drewe's faking illnesses and fleeing, it took 18 months before he was brought to trial. The trial took another 6 months, he was found guilty in 5 hours, and sentenced to 6 years. Myatt received a one year sentence, served 4 months, and resolved to never paint again. His arresting officer, however, persuaded Myatt that 'he had a gift' and commissioned him to create a painting of the officer's family. Myatt returned to painting, and has done well since - making explicitly clear that his works are not authentic.
   
   My main complaint about "Provenance" is that the suspicious fire and death issues were never resolved - the topic is just left hanging. I'm also at a loss to understand how 'Dr. Drewe' sustained himself prior to meeting Myatt (the book and other sources say that almost no records exist - still, his Batsheva and Drewe's parents provide potential sources), and why his financial situation deteriorated prior to being arrested.



3. An expertly written, carefully researched and exciting story of the pathological mastermind John Drewe who meticuously created extensive faked provenance to support his sales of hundreds of modern paintings forged by his accomplace artist John Myatt. The single criticism I have is that, although this book has lengthy descriptions of numerous faked Giacomettis, Nicholsons, Bissières and Sutherlands, there is not included a single photograph of any of the forgeries or of any genuine works to compare them with, nor are there any photographs of the forged provenance documents. And, although Drewe and Myatt's appearances are described in great detail, not a single photograph of either is included. Anyone reading this book would want, and expect, to see exactly what these paintings looked like and exactly how closely they resemble the genuine ones, and the verbal descriptions are excellent, but they are no substitute for photographs. It is inexplicable why none are included. Fortunately, a Google Image search for "John Drewe" or "John Myatt" provides a number of examples of the faked paintings, as well as photographs of Drewe and Myatt (Myatt looks more distinguished to me, and Drewe less, than suggested by the book) and even some of the faked documents supporting the forgeries.



4. I very much enjoyed this book. I learned quite a lot about how the "art world" works. The story is a compelling one, the research seems solid, the writing is fluent and engaging, and the book is a remarkably easy read when you consider how much technical material is covered in it. The authors have a real knack for descriptive writing, making things that the reader cannot see real and solid in the mind's eye.
   
   However, there were three things that I found frustrating about the book. First, the lack of illustrations -- it seems as if the book would have been stronger if there had been images to help the non-expert understand the ways in which the forged pieces were good and the ways in which they fell short. Second, I was left with real curiosity about what Drewe had been doing prior to this scheme. I wish that the authors had managed to uncover this information. it seems odd to me that where they are willing to make educated guesses (always identified as such!) about other things, they had no theories to advance about this particular point. And finally, I find myself wondering where the painting Myatt says he did not do came from.
   
   These are minor quibbles, and should in no way stop anyone with an interest in art, in confidence games, or in interesting well-told stories from picking this book up and getting a great deal of enjoyment out of it.



5. Solidly written and thoroughly researched, "Provenance" offers an insightful look at the ins and outs of art fraud, showing both the technical and logistical hurdles involved in introducing fakes into the market. It also paints a sympathetic portrait of the forger Myatt (a somewhat sad character, truth be told) and an equally credible, if understandably much less positive, picture of the conman Drewe. On the whole, a terrific book, which I wholeheartedly recommend.
   
   Jonathan Lopez, author of "The Man Who Made Vermeers"

5 comments about The Gardner Heist: The True Story of the World's Largest Unsolved Art Theft.

1. I truly enjoyed this book. I am a lover of art and enjoy going to museums especially when I travel. It gives you a different perspective on how criminals view art. I will look forward to reading the book someone writes about how the Gardner Museum recovers the lost art.



2. I found the book fascinating because this is a true mystery that has yet to be solved. I also think it's a bit scary because although I have read other books on other heists, this book makes it clear that paintings taken from museums go through so many hands and through such machinations, damage and travel that even if they are found, there is a good chance they will be damaged beyond repair.
   It was surprising to me that so many underworld figures seem to be involved in this particular crime, and I have no reason to believe it is any different for other art crimes.
   It's surprising and sad that 20 years on, there is still no real clue as to where these paintings are. I hope this book pushes museums to get out of the mindset that art heists cannot happen to them, and to make security a top priority. Although none of us want to enter a fortress when we go to a museum, that may be the only way to ensure that masterpieces will still be there for future generations.



3. This is an extremely readable true crime book about the thefts of several paintings from the Gardner Museum in Boston. At a value of over $500 million, is still the largest art theft in history and the second largest crime of any sort (to Bernie Madoff). The thing that makes the book more fascinating than the usual in this genre is that the crime has not been solved.
   
   Mr. Bosner starts the book with a brief biography of Smith, a Lloyd's of London adjsuter who made a name for himself solving art crimes. Mr. Smith picked up, and became obsessed with, the Gardner heist before he died. Mr. Bosner then took up where he left off in the investigation. Suffice it to say, he did not solve the crime.
   
   By the end of the book, it is obvious that there are as many good potential leads as there were paintings taken. They range from the two bit criminal to the Boston Irish mob with IRA connestions. None seem wrong, yet none seem viable, either. Most people involved somehow believe that even after a few decades, teh works of art will someday reappear.
   
   To move the book along, Mr. Bosner adds anecdotal information about other art crimes and the art crime "industry" in general that are captivating. This is a big business that hardly anyone knows about. As examples show, sometimes even the museums and owners don't know when some of their works have been taken.
   
   Mr. Bosner has laid out an interesting and fascinating account that will the leave the reader scratching his chin to try and figure which he lead he would follow up. After all, there is a $5 million reward. Hmmmm.



4. Ulrich Boser's "The Gardner Heist" is an entertaining look at the devastating theft of priceless art work from one of the most beautiful and interesting museums in the world. What really grabbed me about the book was how Boser was able to tell a story so convincing when so many facts are still - possibly forever - unanswered. It is not that Boser is throwing darts at a wall or embellishing facts to create a possible truth, his perspective makes so much sense. He is open to all possibilities and allowed his own investigation to take him all over the world, chasing leads, interviewing witnesses, dealing with lawyers of convicted felons, artists, art dealers, and in some cases art thieves, to fill in as much as the story as possible.
   In addition to interesting interviews with shady characters who may or may not know more of the stolen art's whereabouts than the "good guys", Boser laces in interesting back stories and art theft history to help the reader understand this world.
   Several times I thought to myself, I'm surprised this man did not get himself killed. Congrats to Ulrich on a courageous investigation and excellent book.
   I'm lucky enough to live in the Boston area and I will be going back to the Gardner very soon...I'll stare at the empty frames with a more thorough understanding of what happened that night. And more than ever, I'll remember that although it's the empty frames that hit me like a ton of bricks every time, I need to cherish the paintings that remain as much as the ones I've never been able to see.



5. On a recent trip to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum with my book club I was able to view the empty frames which are all that remain of the stolen masterpieces. The art that is stolen is generally believed to be ruined and lost forever. Even the millions of dollars offered in reward have not been able to bring about its recovery. UlrichBoser's book highlights the way in which the missing art lodges itself in the consciousness of all the people who have tried to solve the crime or otherwise been involved. The loss is so potent because of the historic and cultural significance of the pieces and the multitudes of people who have subsequently been denied the opportunity to view the stolen art. The Gardner Heist began as a fascinating book, but seemed to get boring and bogged down in endless speculations in the last half. While I did enjoy learning about the heist and the people who have tried to solve the crime, I think that the book would have been more enjoyable if it were shorter and not quite so detailed about all the Boston crime personalities that could have, might have, possibly were involved.