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The Forger's Spell: A True Story of Vermeer, Nazis, and the Greatest Art Hoax of the Twentieth Century (P.S.)

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The Forger's Spell: A True Story of Vermeer, Nazis, and the Greatest Art Hoax of the Twentieth Century (P.S.) Cover

ISBN13: 9780060825423
ISBN10: 0060825421
Condition: Standard
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Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

As riveting as a World War II thriller, The Forger's Spell is the true story of Johannes Vermeer and the small-time Dutch painter who dared to impersonate him centuries later. The con man's mark was Hermann Goering, one of the most reviled leaders of Nazi Germany and a fanatic collector of art.

It was an almost perfect crime. For seven years a no-account painter named Han van Meegeren managed to pass off his paintings as those of one of the most beloved and admired artists who ever lived. But, as Edward Dolnick reveals, the reason for the forger's success was not his artistic skill. Van Meegeren was a mediocre artist. His true genius lay in psychological manipulation, and he came within inches of fooling both the Nazis and the world. Instead, he landed in an Amsterdam court on trial for his life.

ARTnews called Dolnick's previous book, the Edgar Award-winning The Rescue Artist, the best book ever written on art crime. In The Forger's Spell, the stage is bigger, the stakes are higher, and the villains are blacker.

Synopsis:

As riveting as a World War II thriller, The Forger's Spell is the true story of three men and an extraordinary deception: the revered artist Johannes Vermeer; the small-time Dutch painter who dared to impersonate him years later; and the con man's mark, Hermann Goering, the fanatical art collector and one of Nazi Germany's most reviled leaders.
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About the Author

Edward Dolnick is the author of Down the Great Unknown, The Forgers Spell, and the Edgar Award-winning The Rescue Artist. A former chief science writer at the Boston Globe, he lives with his wife near Washington, D.C.
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What Our Readers Are Saying

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Average customer rating based on 2 comments:
Emelbe, January 14, 2013 (view all comments by Emelbe)
This is an amazing book! It is non fiction that reads like a novel. The author pulls together the the history of Hitler and Goering's grasping desire for art that overides, in Goerings case, the needs of his nation. It is the story of a very canney forger whose failure as an artist leads him to produce forgeries that has the art critics buzzing with excitement. The psychology of the forger is what is so gripping here, he does not reproduce the works of Vermeer as much as suggest a Vermeer; the egos of the art experts do all the rest. For history for artwork and just a really good read, don't miss this one!
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Terry Moore, January 1, 2012 (view all comments by Terry Moore)
This is a fascinating exposition of the quirks of the art world and how it decides on value, with just enough historical WWII context to give readers less known information about the creators of the holocaust and the experience of the Dutch, without being completely depressing.
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Product Details

ISBN:
9780060825423
Author:
Dolnick, Edward
Publisher:
Harper Perennial
Subject:
History - Modern (Late 19th Century to 1945)
Subject:
Other Miscellaneous Crimes
Subject:
European
Subject:
General
Subject:
Art - General
Copyright:
2009
Edition Description:
Trade PB
Series:
P.S.
Publication Date:
20090631
Binding:
TRADE PAPER
Grade Level:
General/trade
Language:
English
Illustrations:
Y
Pages:
384
Dimensions:
9 x 7 x 0.64 in 24.32 oz
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Related Subjects

Arts and Entertainment » Art » Europe General
Arts and Entertainment » Art » Forgery
Arts and Entertainment » Art » General
Arts and Entertainment » Art » History and Criticism
Biography » General
History and Social Science » World History » 1650 to Present

The Forger's Spell: A True Story of Vermeer, Nazis, and the Greatest Art Hoax of the Twentieth Century (P.S.) Used Trade Paper
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$7.50 In Stock
Product details 384 pages Harper Perennial - English 9780060825423 Reviews:
"Synopsis" by , As riveting as a World War II thriller, The Forger's Spell is the true story of three men and an extraordinary deception: the revered artist Johannes Vermeer; the small-time Dutch painter who dared to impersonate him years later; and the con man's mark, Hermann Goering, the fanatical art collector and one of Nazi Germany's most reviled leaders.
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