The Raphael Affair - Softcover

Pears, Iain

3.53

3,690 ratings by Goodreads

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0007229178 ISBN 13: 9780007229178

Publisher: Harper, 2010

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When English art historian Jonathan Argyll is caught breaking into a church in Rome, he has an astonishing story to tell. He claims that the church contains a genuine Raphael, hidden under another painting. Further investigation reveals that the painting has disappeared...to reappear later in the hands of top English art dealer, Edward Byrnes. Soon Byrnes is able to unveil the Raphael to the world. But how had he discovered the hidden masterpiece? There is also the curious matter of the forger whose safety deposit box contains some highly suspicious sketches. Then a hideous act of vandalism is perpetrated. Murder follows and General Bottando of Italy's Art Theft Squad faces the biggest challenge of his career. "You don't have to know much about art to enjoy Iain Pears' Italian mysteries. Like a good teacher, he shares his passion unobtrusively and flavours his lessons with wit." VAL McDERMIND.

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About the Author:

Iain Pears was born in 1955. Educated at Wadham College, Oxford, he has worked as a journalist, an art historian, and a television consultant in England, France, Italy, and the United States. He is the author of seven highly praised detective novels, a book of art history, and countless articles on artistic, financial, and historical subjects, as well as the international bestseller "An Instance of the Fingerpost,"

From AudioFile:

In this fast-moving tale about art forgery, art theft, art dealing and art investigation, Geoffrey Howard has an excellent voice for the different characters, both British and Italian. The listener is carried right along through the Italian museum world, a British art auction and an investigation into possible fraud. The Italian detective, General Bottando, and his female assistant, Flavia di Stefano, are read with flair; the British art historian, Jonathan Argyll, and various members of the commercial art world are spot on. Howard's delivery mirrors the increasing tension in the story right up to the denouement and then relaxes the pace so the listener can enjoy the puzzle's solution. D.M.W. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine

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