Book Review: The Art Thief by Michael Finkel
The Art Thief has been on my TBR list since it came out last year. My favorite movie is Ocean’s 11 and I’m a longtime lover of good heist stories, so naturally any true crime book piques my interest.
The Art Thief is a true story about one of the most successful art thieves of all time, a man named Stéphane Breitwieser. What makes Breitwieser interesting is his outlook on his thefts — he considers himself an “art liberator,” not a thief.
The psychological component of this book sets it apart from other journalistic nonfiction. It is simultaneously a psychological study of Breitweiser and a crime thriller describing his crimes. By weaving in testimonies from psychologists and court transcripts, Michael Finkel adds a deeper layer to Breitweiser’s story.
At the same time, though, he maintains the suspense and intrigue of the heists themselves. He describes the delicate details of each operation, down to the number of screws in a display case and the exact scope of a security camera.
With Finkel’s excellent journalistic prose, the book is reminiscent of The Mastermind by Evan Ratliff and any work by Patrick Radden Keefe. At times, Breitwieser feels like a character from a Mission Impossible movie, with no remorse for his crimes.
Part of the allure of Breitwieser’s story is its Bonnie and Clyde element. During his years of near-constant stealing, his girlfriend Anne-Catherine Kleinklaus was his accomplice.
Using home videos and recorded correspondence, Finkel describes their complicated relationship and its potentially problematic dynamics. He doesn’t jump to any conclusions about them, but carefully characterizes the differences between the pair.
The full title of the book is The Art Thief: A True Story of Love, Crime, and a Dangerous Obsession, and that’s exactly what it is. By combining the personal and dangerous components of Breitwieser’s life, Finkel writes a narrative that every true crime fan should read.
