Non-fiction November

Non-fiction Book Club

This was eye-opening. I suppose it shouldn't come as a surprise that only the most famous and well-trafficked museums have decent security measures, but I was floored by each crime.

Stéphane Breitwieser, a very mid looking white guy, and his ex spent years traveling through Europe, and stealing various works of art. This was not to resell, but to keep in the attic room he lived in at the time. He didn't work. He "couldn't keep a job." He was living off his mother. I'm not sure how that's attractive to a woman, but to each their own.

📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf

This book is crazy!
I couldn't believe it was real until I read it
The amount and types of art that were stolen and the international search for pieces kept me at the edge of my seat.
I was sure he was going to be caught at any moment!
Recommended for fans of true crime and art

2½. Finkel really went about this in the worst possible way. Purely recitative, with only nods and Wiki-level probing of undergirding psychological influence. Which is weird, because soooo much of the book addresses that topic, but it's in such a superficial and expository manner. Finkel does not seem to possess the keen eye for psychological portraiture of nonfiction masters like Krakauer or Grann. This is a purely perfunctory presentation of what should have been a sensationalist tale; like drooling on a filet mignon while singing its praises and expecting the same level of appreciation from the diner.

This read presented me with conflicts in conclusions.

The Art Thief is Stéphane Breitwieser. He is a product of his focused acquisitions of art and items preferred, through practice and talents gained - the indulgences of a lifetime, perfected. He has been able to achieve this by enablers, also lifelong, and a society that imposed manageable punitive measures Breitwieser was willing to suffer in exchange for a release into the art-filled wild in which his collecting would resume. And, at book's end, apparently that is so. He's out there, folks and museums of art and treasure!

The author assures the reader that he has spent over a decade preparing for this book's publishing - and the many contributors to that information in the form of conversations, interviews, referenced reports and official documents mentioned. Still, there is a note of wonder, of reluctant admiration that rises up from the read, a slight perfume of shine. Rogue praise and recognition. That's where I get tangled up.

For me the overall flavor of this read has the Bad Guy as being the stubborn, ignorant (I don't think so!) mother who destroyed evidence, waving a flag of "boys will be boys." Meanwhile any girls (mater and/or mates) who follow or cover for Stephane Brietwieser are still 100% on the hook of their own accountability, wrapped in their own choices and consequences - getting no breaks for art passions, jack knife skills, or agility. (They do get points for frugality and fashion sense). Yet Brietwieser, at book's end, still presents as a very clever, smart, self-shaped, fooled-you-all hero.

Michael Finkel's 11 years were not in vain - Stéphane Breitwieser wanted to slip by without any of us seeing him. . .and he's been seen, thanks to this book. Whether that stops him. . .well, that's probably another book?

I do grieve for the works of art and history long gone, to save this man a moment of discomfort, however mistakenly.

*A sincere thank you to Michael Finkel, Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and independently review.* #TheArtThief #NetGalley

Thanks to Knopf, Vintage, Pantheon, Anchor and NetGalley for this free ARC in return for my honest review.

Sometimes the hoopla just does not match my feeling about a book, and The Art Thief falls into that category for me. It's not a bad book, but it did not really do a lot for me either. Granted the art crimes perpetrated by Stephane Breitwieser and his girlfriend are almost more than one can comprehend, but the book seems to cover the same ground over and over. Despite some prior books by other authors, not a whole lot new is added to the story in this book. Finkel is a fine writer but even he really cannot get a whole lot more out of Stephane other than the fact that Stephane swipes Finkel's laptop with a swift ease that Finkel had no idea it was happening. It just shows how adept Stephane was and how he was able to quickly steal over 300 priceless objects from museums throughout Europe. But he was unable to get any new info from Stephane's girlfriend and mother, both of whom blatantly lied during the two trials arising from these thefts. He places little blame, does not really give us more insights into the 80+ pieces still not found, and seems to be more at awe of Stephane than the ridiculous judicial proceedings that gave slaps on the wrist instead of severe penalties. A system that believed Stephane would not go back to his criminal ways upon release (he did numerous times and the penalties were not that severe), and a system that employs people to solve art crimes but until 2023 had no really meaningful punishment. Yes, it was interesting, but not deserving of all the hoopla.

I think this was an interesting read.. The act of stealing art is interesting to me. Although I felt that Breitwieser was a bit obnoxious, I loved learning about the reason he became an art thief.

Unfortunately, this was a DNF for me. While I was interested in the topic, I didn’t feel as engaged with the book as I did with Finkel’s past work.

I love a good book on art crimes and The Art Thief did not disappoint. Finkel does an amazing job at presenting Breitweiser and describing his crimes. I highly recommend this book to people into true crime and art.

Engaging and entertaining. A recommended purchase for collections where true crime and art titles are popular.

What a fascinating, well-researched book! I was drawn in from the beginning to this nonfiction book that reads in some places like a novel. It gives such insight into the main characters thinking, without making judgements or assumptions. 5/5 would definitely recommend.

I've been obsessed with art and museum theft for as long as I can remember. I know that sounds weird, but if you were part of the generation that grew up with the National Treasure movies, you get it! Heists seem so exciting and dangerous, and you can't help but be a little interested in how they're pulled off, especially when the stolen objects are works of art. Stealing from a museum filled with hundreds of pieces of priceless works of art seems like it'd be hard, but after reading The Art Thief, which chronicles the career of art thief Stéphane Breitwieser, it seems pretty easy to me lol.

This book starts out in a big way: right in the middle of one of Breitwieser's heists. He and his girlfriend rob this museum so casually and easily, it's almost hard to believe that it actually happened. You expect museums to have hidden cameras, multiple security guards, the works. But one thing I learned in this book is that an alarming amount of them are severely lacking in the realm of security. So much so that Breitwieser and his accomplice girlfriend Anne-Catherine manage to accumulate treasures numbering in the hundreds. They even hit some of the museums multiple times! I was in shock the entire time I was reading; I just couldn't believe their success. But one thought that was always in the back of my head while reading was what was the main factor that let them commit so many robberies in broad daylight: their whiteness. I know, I know: not everything comes down to race! But so many things DO, and their success is one of them, in my opinion. In my eyes, even though they wore lackluster disguises and thought of themselves as clever and unassuming, the reason why it worked so many times boils down to the casual anonymity that white people have in public spaces, even when they're doing something wrong...like robbing museums of priceless artworks. I kept trying to imagine the same scenarios but with a different cast of characters: BIPOC people. It seems ridiculous to even try to imagine. There is a hyperawareness that comes with being BIPOC in public spaces, and I cant imagine trying to get away with what Breitwieser and Anne-Catherine got away with, and for so long! Are there any art criminals of color? I'm sure there are; I don't know! Just something I thought about while reading.

Overall, I ate this book up! Breitwieser was equal parts surreal and despicable. I often found myself admiring his nerve and skill while also condemning his behavior and personality. This book and Finkel's research was just so intriguing, and now I want to search for more books about art heists!

A fascinating true crime story about a compulsive art thief and his years-long stealing spree. The story is fascinating and well-researched!

FInkel does an exceptional job telling the story of Stéphane Breitwieser, a most prolific art theif and a truly unique individual. In a riveting and highly readable manner, Finkel details the facts of Breitweiser's thefts and also provides a glimpse into his personality and how his actions impacted those around him. This is non-fiction that reads like the best novel. Highly recommended.

Michael Finkel has written one of the more unusual true crime books in producing this tome outlining the criminal career of Stephane Breitwieser, a French man from the Alsace region who has one, possibly two, true loves in his life. His primary love is art, works of art, precious works of art of the primarily 17th century. His second love is the young woman who accompanies him during many of his exploits—a compulsive career of art theft solely for his personal pleasure.

In sections that occasionally made me squirm with discomfort, the reader accompanies Stephane on some of his “missions”, for they feel like tasks he is compelled to perform. The author presents this story from multiple perspectives: from that of Stephane Breitwieser, from the views of various psychiatrists and psychologists who have attempted to analyze him and his need for works of art, from the viewpoints of the police departments who eventually discovered and stopped him. It’s estimated that he probably stole more than 300 objects, all to keep and enjoy, all from small museums throughout Europe.

After that beginning, where we live with this man as he travels and commits his crimes (or “liberations”), the story grows increasingly complex and interesting as it opens up more facets of the story, the people and the eventual chase. I think that I found the beginning section unsettling because it was presented with no counter, no evidence of any price to be paid and, indeed, there wasn’t one for some time.

I do recommend this book to true crime enthusiasts, especially those interested in art crime and psychology.


Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a preview copy of this book. The review is my own.

I absolutely loved Stranger in the Woods so I was excited for another narrative nonfiction from Finkel and it did not disappoint. The Art Thief kept me engaged the entire time. I did a lot of pausing to look up pictures of the tiny European towns, museums, and pilfered pieces of art involved. The only thing I wish I could have seen a picture of was that attic in all of its glory, but Finkel painted a great picture. Truly astonishing at the ease in which this thievery was committed. I appreciated the different perspectives of who art belongs to, and why people steal.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for this Advanced Readers Copy of The Art Thief by Michael Finkel!

The Art Thief is a narrative nonfiction so it reads almost like fiction. But this amazing story is true. Crazy to think that so recently in the past, someone could get away with stealing hundreds of pieces from various museums. Yes, not the big museums, but still! It was surprising to learn that Breitwieser didn’t go in for lots of advance planning. He was a think-on-his-feet kind of thief.
The book veers between the story of the various art heists with commentary by various psychologists, all of whom tried to determine what led him to steal. Meanwhile, Breitwieser declares “Art is my drug”, as if that is all the explanation needed.
The book also provides a unique look at the European legal system. I was shocked to learn that Breitweiser’s many thefts were deemed as less serious than a theft of some cheap item if a weapon was used in the latter. In fact, the amount of time he served was shocking to me. The person who comes across the worst here is his mother.
Breitwieser granted Michael Finkel hours and hours of interview time, so the book definitely has the feel of a one on one conversation.
I found it odd that Stephane Breitwieser is consistently called by his last name, while his girlfriend and accomplice is called by her first name, Anne-Catherine.
It was refreshing to read a true crime story with no violence involved.
My thanks to Netgalley and Knopf for an advance copy of this book.

AHHHHHH!
I'm so thankful to PRH Audio, Knopf, Netgalley, and Michael Finkel for granting me advanced audio, digital, and physical access to this sweet gem of book that held emotional weight that twisted into my with a sharp knife.

An art thief who steals for the beauty and not the profit? And one who has standards regarding when and how the theft will occur? This is such an odd but utterly engrossing story that features one man who is so enamored of beauty that he amassed an unmatched collection of stolen art just to see the beauty every day.

This reminded me a bit of Art & Craft, the documentary about Mark Landis, a prolific art forger. The psychological aspect of what both these men accomplished through their theft has to be the stuff of legends.

The writing is engaging and a bit bombastic, but the incredible truth to this story sucks you in and keep you reading to the last page. True crime fans will surely eat this up.

I did not know anything about this particular art thief before starting this book, and the story drew me in immediately through a tense retelling of a theft. From there it just kept going, with one jaw-dropping story after another. The psychological analysis of the people involved in this story was also interesting. It's a short read, very compelling and propulsive. For me the only thing keeping it from being a five star book was that the straightforwardness of the prose. If there had been a little more flair to the language, this would have been a perfect book for me. Still, an incredible story very well told!