- Paperback: 256 pages
- Publisher: UK General Books; 1 edition (Jun 27 2007)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0007229178
- ISBN-13: 978-0007229178
- Product Dimensions: 19.6 x 12.8 x 2.2 cm
- Shipping Weight: 159 g
- Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #274,442 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Publishers Weekly
Pity the rather overfed Gen. Bottando of the Italian National Art Theft Squad. An excellent, unknown Raphael was smuggled out of Rome hidden under a painting by the heroically second-rate artist Mantini. When it's eventually recovered at great cost by the Italian government and the Museo Nazionale, Bottando's peaceable existence in the Eternal City is further disturbed by forgery, arson, murder, government bureaucracy and the occasionally overzealous aid of his beautiful assistant, Flavia di Stefano, and British art historian Jonathan Argyll. Art historian Pears ( The Discovery of Painting ) provides one twist too many in his first novel, but presumably as this projected series continues his grasp of the genre will grow surer. His command of the intricacies of Italian life, art history and the licit and illicit trade in masterworks needs no improvement: although not all artists or organizations mentioned are real, none are improbable. Qua mystery, The Raphael Affair is very good; as cultural explication, it is superlative.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Library Journal
Thrills and excitement enter this first novel when a British art dealer discovers a Raphael portrait. After an astounding auction, the painting finds its way to a national museum in Rome, where its acquisition solidifies the director's reputation. Taddeo Bottando and his favorite assistant Flavia, both of the national art theft squad, become suspicious when a vagrant art student's story of fraud and the jottings of a famous forger come to their attention. Clever research, museum politics, and foreign setting add to the story's interest, especially for those who enjoy art and art history.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most helpful customer reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars
The plot is too slight.,
This review is from: Raphael Affair (Paperback)
I am a huge fan of An Instance of the Fingerpost and Stone's Fall and have enormous respect for Iain Pears. This is not the same style of story at all and is not meant to be. It is a simple thriller , but it doesn't have enough thrills. I believe it is his first book and if so, I can only be grateful that it set him on the path to Fingerpost and Stone's. It has about 246 pages and doesn't really begin to get going until about 120. I bought it for a possible plane journey, but I'm glad I couldn't wait to read it because it would not have kept me diverted on the journey. In addition there are at least two clunky unrealistic things at the end that really bugged me, but I'll refrain from straying into a spoiler. I also failed to buy into the supposed chemistry between the two central characters and this failure makes me appreciate how difficult it must be to create this. I don't see how an intelligent, capable woman could fall for such a tiresome twerp. His supposed charm became irritating very quickly. It needed a sub-plot to take the place of detailed descriptions of characters buying coffee and not actually doing very much. I presume the author relied on the reader being so entertained by badinage between competent woman and tiresome twerp that we would be happy without much plot content. By the end, I just didn't care who the perpetrator was. Sorry, Mr. Pears; your aforementioned other books are in my all-time top ten, so I feel apologetic about putting the boot into this one.
3.0 out of 5 stars
very good!,
By chubchik "chubchik" (Boston, MA United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Raphael Affair (Art History Mysteries) (Paperback)
Pears is awkward at times in his writing style, but otherwise it is a very good reading. I believe it is his first book, hence the awkwardness.
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Mysterious Painting,
By
This review is from: The Raphael Affair (Mass Market Paperback)
Jonathan Argyll is sure that, under an obscure alterpiece in a small Italian church, is hidden a long-undiscovered painting by Raphael. When he gets there, he discovers that the painting has been sold to a reputable, but shady dealer. The painting underneath is exposed, and the art world revels in the beauty of the painting. Experts think its popularity will soon rival the Mona Lisa's. However, the painting is destroyed by either a madman or a very careful plotter during a party at the Italian museum. A member of Italy's art police, and his assistant Flavia, are soon on the case. Flavia recruits Argyll to help. Along the way, they make some interesting discoveries, and also begin to develop an interest in each other. The book is no Instance of the Fingerpost. It is, however, an enjoyable, short read, and a good introduction to Pears's art history series.
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