This was such an interesting story! I loved the mix of art and true crime. The story was pretty fast paced and I learned a lot!

Generally speaking I like non-violent True Crime quite a bit, especially when it centers on a heist or museum theft.

This certainly fits those categories, but though it’s well-researched and well-presented, it just isn’t a particularly good story as gentleman thief stories go.

For a book like this to work for me, I need to either a) learn a lot or b) find the thief compelling. Neither of these things came through in this book. If you know very little about art and art theft it’s possible you’ll learn a few things, but don’t expect much if you’re reasonably well-informed on the topic.

Despite that, this still might have been a fun read had our thief been a more intriguing fellow. Though the text attempts to present him as such, Breitweiser isn’t much of a dashing antihero whom you want to root for. He’s just one more narcissist who thinks he’s smarter than everyone else (he’s not) and thinks he loves the art more than anyone else does (he doesn’t).

His thefts are executed purely out of a megalomaniacal belief that he will better care for the art and love the art more than anyone else, and therefore deserves to solely possess it. Unfortunately, there’s little that’s less interesting than a megalomaniac, especially an art thief whose thefts aren’t even especially smart or well-planned, just opportunistic and brazen.

I respect Finkel’s thorough research into the subject and think he did the best he could with the available material, but there are a lot of great reads about art theft out there, of which many are both more educational and centered on a more compelling thief or thieves.

I have heard some odd and compelling tales people driven by obsessions the rest of the world struggles to understand, but this one takes the cake. In The Art Thief, Michael Finkel tries to immerse the reader in the world of Stephane Breitweiser, a young man with a dangerous, all-consuming need to possess the art the rest of us content ourselves with enjoying in museums, galleries, and books. During the 1990s and early 2000s, Breitweiser, often with the assistance of his partner, girlfriend Anne-Catherine Kleinkaus, stole approximately $2 billion of art from museums and auctions across Europe. But if you are expecting a tale of intricately planned and precisely executed thefts, foiling security systems and laser-grids in an Entrapment-like, movie-style thriller, you will be disappointed. Breitweiser's approach was much more haphazard, his grand heists sometimes occurring on the spur of the moment, his deceptions no more elaborate than turning his back to a camera or waiting for a guard to get hungry and take a lunch break. He never threatened anyone or brandished a weapon other than a Swiss army knife. But the strangest thing of all is that Breitweiser never sold, or even attempted to sell a single item. He stole simply for the pleasure of his own aesthetic enjoyment of the art he selected. Every item was collected and kept in the loft he and Anne-Catherine lived in rent-free above his mother's apartment.

This bizarre account is truly fascinating in parts, but honestly, at times the sheer mundane banality of the crimes Breitweiser commits makes the book feel almost repetitive and a bit of a slow read in parts, even as you feel the tension build as you wait for Breitweiser to get caught. In discussing Breitweiser's possible motives, Finkel pursues what feels like a rabbit-trail of brain-science about the size of the human brain, the proportion of our diet devoted to protein, etc. that feels irrelevant, as all humans have evolved along similar lines, yet we do not all have $2 billion in stolen art stashed in our lofts (at least I don't, and I'm guessing you don't either). Finkel struggles to maintain objectivity, and you can sense that he clearly admires Breitweiser's audacity and intelligence. Though Breitweiser's actions destroy his life, the tale is overall a compelling read, though it is regrettable that more from Anne-Catherine and Stengel (Breitweiser's mother) is not offered, as they emerge as interesting characters in the saga.

Thank you to NetGalley for a complementary ARC in exchange for my honest review.

My thanks to Net Galley and Knopf Publishers for an advanced copy of this e-book. I loved it so much I bought a hard copy for myself.

I have read about art theft for monetary gain. I have read about art collector's who pay a lot of money to own classic masterpieces. But this book was the first time I have read about a prolific art thief that wanted art for himself! Just to put in his bedroom in the attic of his mother's house. It hung on the walls and ceiling, was on the floor and in his closet. And he was addicted to stealing art from all over Europe!

Such a fascinating story of what made him want to do this, his life, how he did it and so much more that will leave me pondering Stephane Breitwieser for a long time. I highly recommend this short book with a big story!!

This is an almost literally unbelievable account of perhaps the most successful art thief in the history of the world. With incredible access to the principals of the story author Finkel tells this amazing story with a light hand, treating it more as a tall tale than a police procedural.

Along the way, you’ll get a crash course in museum security (or lack thereof ), art history and perhaps pathological narcissism.

This is a quick, lively, expertly-reported,totally enjoyable book. Grab it (but please pay for it) and read it ASAP.

Many thanks to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor, and NetGalley for the advance readers copy.

Michael Finkel made me feel compassionate towards the notorious art thief responsible for one of the worst plunders of artwork in European history. He is an excellent author who wrote with precise details and wove an amazing narrative of the exploits and motives of Stéphane Breitweiser and his accomplice Anne-Catherine Kleinklaus. A beautifully told story of obsession, and the unrelenting quest for one more gorgeous piece of art, a reader was caught breathless from the audacity of this unrepentant criminal and felt some sympathy for him as well. Read it.

This is a fascinating true-crime story about a prolific art thief. Young and obsessed with art, Stéphane Breitwieser couldn't seem to leave a museum without stealing something, with his girlfriend serving as lookout.

Perhaps the most amazing part was he didn't do this for money, he just wanted to live with the objects. The author did a magnificent job with research and writing this story. One may expect this story to be more known in Europe, and in the art world, but it was the first I heard of it. Breitwiser is a master thief, just amazing at his audacity.

Any interest in true crime, or the art world, this is a good pick.

FASCINATING - reads like fiction, true story of am art thief who never sells what he steals. Incredible. Loved that it wasn’t just about the actual thefts but also about the man’s life and his family and the art itself. Now all I can think of is going to a museum and looking for cameras and guards and notice how the art is secured to the wall or it’s space! I finished the book and immediately googled to see him and the pieces of art. The story is insane and needs to be a movie. Read immediately - you won’t be able to put it down. Thanks, Knopf. I am grateful for the copy!

Why are books about art thefts my favorite type of nonfiction??? They are just the most fascinating books EVER??? And, y’all, this one is EXCELLENT!

Can I first say, the ~audacity??? These thefts were all quietly carried out while the museums were open and operating and that right there was just an astonishing feat.

But this book is also just an absolute roller coaster. And I so very much enjoyed the ride. The last few chapters especially (after Breitwieser was caught) were absolutely fascinating and, honestly, harrowing.

I also love reading books like this just to see how much technology (and the world in general) has changed. Security systems are a lot more advanced now and it’s just interesting to see how much of this could not have happened today.

So. Loved this!!! This may be a short little number (and with short chapters that I just flew through!) but it packs quite a punch! I enjoyed this SO MUCH!!! Highly recommend!!! Also especially recommend reading the author’s note as well! It had so much additional and fascinating information!

Thank you to Knopf for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review!

I love art heists. Well, I love the tales of art heists, really. In reality, I’m not really into the idea of stealing things that don’t belong to you, but there’s something so cool about the idea of art thieves, those daring people who seem to be able to make expensive works of art disappear into thin air. At the end of the day, though, all art thieves end up being are just regular thieves who happened to study their target very well.

Not Stephane Breitwieser, though. Stephane Breitwiser stole art because he was so struck by its beauty that he felt overcome by the need to have it close to him where he could admire it every single day. He never intended to sell it or damage it. Oftentimes accompanied by his girlfriend, Anne-Catherine, Breitwieser carried out more than two hundred heists over nearly eight years, stealing more than three hundred objects, making him the world’s most prolific art thief.

Breitwieser never used violence or broke into a museum to carry out a single heist: Every single object was lifted during business hours without harming a single person. Risks were sometimes taken, and close calls happened. In the end, Stephane and Anne-Catherine almost always simply strolled away from each scene, sometimes with several art objects on their persons.

Finkel does an excellent job of writing up how each heist was carried out, letting us readers feel the suspense, the stress, and the thrill of racing against the clock to obtain each object before the couple is caught by a guard, camera, or another patron. We get to feel the desperation that comes with quick-thinking when Breitwieser suddenly realizes the crossbow he has lifted can’t be smuggled out the front door like he planned, so he opens a window and drops it gently into some bushes below so he can retrieve it once he’s outside. And we get to feel Breitwiser’s disdain for poor security when art objects are put inside old cabinets that can easily be tricked into opening.

What’s most interesting is Breitwieser himself, who is at heart a momma’s boy who never learned the word “no” and never learned to do things for himself. It left him a loafer who never felt he had to work, which allowed him to live on government assistance and monetary gifts from his doting grandparents even while his mother and girlfriend worked and he reveled in his stolen hoard. He’s the definition of a self-serving narcissist, a man who must have the things he wants and what he wants is the only thing that matters. If he doesn’t get what he wants he slumps into episodes of what he might call depression but could also be described as pouting. He’s deluded himself into thinking he’s only borrowing these works of art and that he’ll give them back someday. He’s also deluded himself into thinking he’ll never be caught and that his loved ones will always stick by him, as is evident in what happened to his relationship with Anne-Catherine and his mother when he was finally caught.

In the end, The Art Thief is an entertaining and almost cinematic look at a man with a case of Peter Pan syndrome who saw the art world as his playground, his bedroom as Ali Baba’s cave, and thought he’d live happily ever after. Sadly, he’s just another man who needed to grow up.

I was provided an electronic copy of this title by NetGalley and the author. I was also provided a finished copy by the folks at A. A. Knopf. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.

File Under: Biography/Nonfiction/True Crime

What is it about an art heist that tickles the imagination?

Is it images of masked intruders strategically bending over lasers and tiptoeing around guards? Or is it the glamour of a life created by these multimillion dollar steals?

What is it about an art heist that sparks ideas of intrigue and mystery?

Is it the constant prompting of the question "who done it?" Or, is it, rather, the question of "how exactly did they do it?"

"The Art Thief" by Michael Finkel answers all of these questions in his biography of one art thief: Stéphane Breitwieser. Breitwiser is one of the most prolific art thieves of this modern century, but his thievery was unique to the typical telling of the traditional art heist story arc. His thievery was less about the reward of the loot and more about the thrill of the chase. About capturing in his hands works of art solely for his own consumption. He was a thief, indeed, but at the heart, simply, a compulsive connoisseur of over 300+ masterpieces, stolen with the subtlety of a master illusionist over the course of almost a decade.

Told with impressive research and detail, Michael Fink has painted a picture of Breitwiser's life that is not only deeply unique and interesting, but also intensely human. Breitwiser, while superhuman in his sleight of hand, really just desires what we all do: belonging and love.

While some of the earlier chapters get a little caught up in detail, the final chapters pack all the punches and provide a climactic payoff.

Thank you Michael Finkel for the hard work you put into telling Breitwiser's story. Every act of history has its share of drama, and this drama is definitely one not to miss.

The Art Thief tells the true story of the world's most prolific art thief, Stéphane Breitwieser. In this gripping portrait of obsession, love, and crime, you will read all about Stéphane's heists and how he amassed a collection of art in his mother's attic, worth an estimated two billion dollars. And no, that was not a mistype - an estimated two billion dollars worth of art.

Pub date: 6/27/23
Genre: nonfiction, art history, true crime
Quick summary: Stéphane Breitwieser is the world's most prolific art thief - but he stole for the love of art, not for money.

I love art history and true crime, and this short read was so interesting! I had never heard of Stéphane Breitwieser, but wow is he a character! Author Michael Finkel was able to meet Breitwieser after many years of correspondence, and he has the inside scoop on this complex character. Breitwieser viewed his art thefts as "victimless" because he didn't sell the art, and he thought that the art shouldn't have been contained in museums anyway. But reading this book makes it clear that a lot of harm was done by Breitwieser, his girlfriend and lookout, and his enabling mother. I gasped when I found out what his mother did to try to protect Breitwieser.

Truth is truly stranger than fiction - and this story is a doozy. I still can't believe they were able to steal so much art without getting caught...until it all felt apart. I enjoyed both text and audio; the audio narrated by Edoardo Ballerini felt like listening to a good true crime podcast. I definitely recommend this one if you like true crime - whether an art lover or not!

Thank you to Knopf for my e-ARC and physical copy and PRHAudio for my audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

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The Art Thief
Author: Michael Finkel
Source: NetGalley
Pub Date: June 27, 2023

The Art Thief written by Michael Finkel was a surprising read and the art book I didn’t know I needed. I am a museum lover and I have personally seen the sad and lonely empty space at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston that once held a beautiful Rembrandt. Art theft is not a victimless crime. But this story is about one of the most prolific art thieves of all time and his reasoning behind the thefts is not what you would expect. Stephane Breitwieser did not steal artwork for profit. He stole them to enjoy and view in his closed off attic where he lived in France. He wanted to own and possess beautiful things and he did so for a long time, with up to 300 artistic treasures. Once caught, he was unable to return all the pieces he stole but you will have to read what happened. He was careful, considerate, and an obsessed art lover who lived a life in private that some of us can only imagine. I loved this book. It’s simple but some of Stephane’s concepts are very interesting. Well done!  #biography #memoirs #art #crime #love #beauty #theft #france #thief #TheArtThief #michaelfinkel @aaknopf @netgalley #nonfiction
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I received a complimentary copy of this ARC. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Thank you to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor, NetGalley, and the author for the opportunity to read this novel. Pub. Date: June 27, 2023.
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#book #books #bookaddict #booksofinstagram #bookstagram #bookstagramer #bookshelf #booksbooksbooks #readersofinstagram #reader #booklove #bookreader #reader

I love a good true crime tale, and The Art Thief falls into an interesting niche: the notorious but non-violent crime. Stéphane Breitwieser managed to steal hundreds of paintings, sculptures, and historic and decorative objects across Europe – many of them priceless – over eight years. He never sold any of the items and lived with his mother and girlfriend in a modest home in an unassuming part of France. So what drove these thefts? Finkel is the first writer Breitwieser agreed to speak with at length, and he did a tremendous amount of additional research to shed some light on both the how and the why of Breitwieser’s crimes, as well as how he eventually got caught. I would recommend this to anyone who likes heist stories (Ocean’s 11, The Thomas Crown Affair, the documentary This is a Robbery) or who likes true crime but needs a break from murders and serial killers.

Likes: The Art Thief manages to combine reams of evidence (interviews, court transcripts, video footage, photographs) with excellent storytelling. Although I knew Breitwieser would eventually be caught, I kept avidly turning the pages as the story took several unexpected twists and turns. Finkel has a knack for descriptive detail, bringing the obscure museums, Breitwieser’s lair, and the objects he stole to life on the page. The shocking outcome of what happened to the art (don’t Google it before you read!) gives The Art Thief an emotional heft that’s not usually part of a heist story. The book also does a fantastic job of weaving in psychology, and trying to turn over the rocks on what motivated these crimes.

Dislikes: The tale occasionally becomes a bit repetitive, which is understandable given the number of crimes. But this is a minor criticism of a fascinating book.

FYI: emotional abuse, abortion, imprisonment.

A whole different take on "art " thieves. Breitweiser and Anne-Catherine stole art for either the thrill of the steal or for purely aesthetic reasons. The story progresses efficiently and adds psychological profiles to better understand their obsession. A good read.

Michael Finkel's The Art Thief: A True Story of Love, Crime, and a Dangerous Obsession is a journalistic book about the life of Stéphane Breitwieser, a prolific art thief who admitted to stealing over 239 art objects from 172 institutions in Europe between 1995 and 2001.

Finkel provides a full biography of his subject, beginning with his youth, tracing his education and development through his many thefts until the present day. Like The Feather Thief or
The Man Who Loved Books Too Much, it is a tale of an obsessed individual who through serendipity and a lot of daring is able to acquire much until finally caught.

Breitwieser was a privileged loner of a child, but his parents divorced and he and his mother found themselves in reduced circumstances. Yet his mother found them a new home and would provide her son with his own Attic room and board as he flitted from job to job, following his own interests and lust for the finer things, frequently funded by his grandparents. He began dating Anne-Catherine Kleinklauss who moved in with the mother and son Breitwiesers and Anne-Catherine would travel with Stephane, becoming his co-conspirator and assistant, serving as lookout for Stephane's many thefts. Their attic nest became their treasure horde.

Breitwieser, of course, sees nothing wrong with what he is doing, as he is surrounded by enablers or those willing to ignore clear signs of harmful habits. He also makes claims that what he is doing is best for the art, as museums have far too many objects to appreciate them all, and that the objects are meant to be enjoyed in a tactile manner. Based on his research he is very knowledge about their history and care, but as his thefts continue the sheer amount of items leads to a reduction in the effectiveness of this argument as things break through poor care or repaired in knowing slapdash manners.

As one expects, Breitwieser is eventually caught and when the case against him proceeds, a ghastly event is discovered. His mother saw to it that the works were not to be found in her home, the exact methods of this dispersal and who assisted left to be determined through the course of the investigation.

Like Susan Orlean's The Orchid Thief what is the focus here is one individual's harmfully impulsive obsession in all of its incremental glory. Finkel does give space to detail the harm done, and has some discussion on the value and purpose of museums. There is also frequent reference to the mental evaluation undertaken as part of the legal proceedings. Due to the lack of physical harm to individuals, Breitwieser unsurprisingly gets off lightly, before his impulsiveness gets the better of him. However much of the book reads as if narrated by a shocked onlooker star struck by the capabilities of a talented thief.

True crime aficionados may be interested in this book, but those in the historical institutions will not find much of use here, as the short comings Breiwieser took advantage of are known, but funding or staffing limitations prevent effective countermeasures.

Alright, we have to talk about Stephane Breitwieser for a minute. The subject behind the fascinating book, "The Art Thief" by Michael Finkel. Over the course of eight years Breitwieser, with the aid of his girlfriend, managed to pull off over two hundred heists from museums and historical cathedrals.
What is fascinating is that he was not the traditional art thief turning around to sell these stolen treasures, no, instead he kept them all in his attic bedroom at his mother's house. Why? Because he wanted to surround himself with beauty.
The brazen way he pulled off these heists was jaw dropping to me, as was the turn of events that lead to his demise. The psychological aspect of how Breitwieser's brain works and how he justified his actions and doesn't quite grasp the scope of his crimes is fascinating, as was the behavior of his closest allies.
Personally, as an art lover, what happens to many of the pieces is quite painful to read about. But I don't want to spoil it all for you. This was a quick read and definitely worth sitting down with!

This is one of those books that you just cannot put down! The audacity of the main character in his thefts of priceless art throughout Europe will just leave you amazed. You almost feel as though you are there, in his secret little attic apartment, watching him. I leaned a great deal about art museums and churches, and their lack of security. I also appreciated the author's insights into the main character's personality, and what made him the way he was. I was disappointed at the lack of follow-up and prosecution of the girlfriend and the mother. Perhaps if a little more pressure had been applied, maybe more of the art could have been recovered.
This is just a fascinating read. Very much in the genre of "The Feather Thief" by Kirk Johnson. It would make a fantastic movie! I can close my eyes and see Johnny Depp as the main character!

The concept is captivating though the style can be hard to get into. Make sure you are in the right mood for this one.