Its another historical thriller of sorts which swaps the eastern europe of. Her second novel, the swan thieves, focuses on french impressionism, which raises the question. Its the story about a psychiatrist i happen to be married to a psychiatrist who is also an artist. The swan thieves is a 2010 novel by american author elizabeth kostova. Ranging from american museums to the coast of normandy, from the late nineteenth century to the late twentieth, from young love to last love, the swan thieves is a story of obsession, the losses of history, and the power of art to preserve human hope. Searching for the owners of a mysterious urn thats fallen into her possession, a young american traveler takes a weeklong drive through bulgaria guided by an enigmatic cabdriver in kostovas the swan thieves, 2010, etc. Such feverish emotions inform elizabeth kostovas the swan thieves, a novel with painting at the center of it.
The swan thieves by elizabeth kostova is a fitting sophomore effort following up on her huge hit the historian. I really had high expectations and was ecstatic when i heard that kostova had written a new book. The swan thieves by elizabeth kostova about the book psychiatrist andrew marlowe, devoted to his profession and the painting hobby he loves, has a solitary but ordered life. Elizabeth kostovas second novel will delight some readers and disappoint others. This order is destroyed when renowned painter robert oliver attacks a canvas in the. However, the historian is a league apart, a totally different book. The swan thieves shows the same meticulous historical research and scenesetting description that elevated the historian from a vampire tale to a work of art.
I loved it frommore i quite like the swan thieves, although im only halfway through. Minor weaknesses aside, the swan thieves is an intriguing portrait of one artist, his obsession, and the people who shared it with himoften unwillingly and by association. The swan thieves is a story of obsession, historys losses, and the power of art to preserve hope. Kostovas new novel, the swan thieves, keeps the gothic motif going with its themes of art, madness and obsession. A fine book, decent for a best seller, but not terribly satisfying. Its a shame for a womans history to be all about men first boys, then other boys, then men, men, men, says mary. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone.
Robert oliver is a gifted and very troubled artist. Swan thieves is an artfilled, if not artful, novel. The swan thieves is a story of obsession, historys losses, and the power of art to preserve human hope. Kostova follows up her blockbuster debut about the undead the historian, 2005 with a romance about a contemporary painters obsession with an undiscovered 19thcentury impressionist. Associated press the many ardent admirers of the historian will be happy to learn that the swan thieves offers plenty of the same pleasures. Kostova recounts the story of robert oliver, an artist who attempts to stab a. Legions of fans of the first book have been waiting impatiently, or perhaps. The late late show with james corden recommended for you. Kostovas masterful new novel travels from american cities to the coast of normandy, from the late 19th century to the late 20th, from young love to last love. Kostova studied fine art at the university of michigan, and she brings her expertise to her writing. Psychiatrist andrew marlow, devoted to his profession and the painting hobby he loves, has a solitary but ordered life. Marlow briefly and pretty much says, feel free to ask anyone you. A novel 9780316065788 by kostova, elizabeth and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. Katharine webers fifth novel, true confections, will be published by shaye areheart books in january.
A novel by kostova, elizabeth and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. I am unsure if reading the book would have been the same experience and if it would have held my attention in the same way the audiobook version did. Kostova is an author worth watching, her work a perfect blend of thriller and literature. Listen to swan thieves audiobook by elizabeth kostova. Set against the construction of the eiffel tower, this novel. Psychiatrist andrew marlowe, devoted to his profession and the painting hobby he loves, has a solitary but kostovas masterful new novel travels from american cities to the coast of normandy, from the late 19th century to the late 20th, from young love to last love.
When renowned painter robert oliver attacks a canvas in the national gallery of art and becomes his patient, marlow finds that order destroyed. What other obsessions appear in the course of the book, in robert and in other characters. In this novel the swan thieves, my attention was held throughout the reading of the story in the audiobook edition. Such excitement may persuade the devoted to jump on her new work, the swan thieves, but despite some exquisite writing, the book. Author interview elizabeth kostova, author of the swan. Reading guide for the swan thieves by elizabeth kostova. Elizabeth kostova made a dramatic debut in 2005 with her megabestselling the historian. This order is destroyed when the renowned painter robert oliver attacks a canvas in the national gallery of art and becomes marlows patient. It has a number of wonderful features but also a number of flaws. What are the major landscapes of the book, and what effect do they have on the characters. Although oliver and marlow, locked in a silent battle of wills, are central to the swan thieves, the women in the book are just as interesting and a lot angrier. There is a difference in writing a second book, she said. Elizabeth kostova has a great level of skill, detail and depth to her writing. Less urgent in its events than the historian, the swan thieves makes clear that kostovas abiding subject is obsession.
Swan thieves, something she didnt have to deal with the. Landscapes play an important role in the swan thieves, both in life and on canvas. The narrator of the swan thieves is andrew marlow, a middleaged psychiatrist who becomes personally entangled in the case of a new patient at the private residential center where he works. The swan thieves tells the story of a psychiatrist who goes over and above the call of duty in seeking out answers to a troublesome patients depression and anger. Elizabeth kostovas gripping debut novel, the historian 2005, explored the legend of dracula, undoubtedly contributing to the cultural craze that has now evolved into fullblown vampire mania.
Legions of fans of the first book have been waiting impatiently, or perhaps even obsessively, for this novel. The patient is robert oliver, a 42yearold artist of burgeoning reputation who gets arrested for trying to slash a painting at the national gallery. The old painter described in the book before the first chapter is alfred sisley. The swan thieves by elizabeth kostova librarything. Critics praise the book for its exploration of the power of art, and how art can give society hope when we need it most. The swan thieves succeeds both in its echoes of the historian and as it maps new territory for this canny and successful writer. Kostova starts with a fascinating premise that sets its hook into the readerwhy did robert oliver attack the painting of leda and the swan. The central mystery of the swan thieves is why oliver, a successful realist painter, has attempted to slash a canvas of leda and the swan in washingtons national gallery. Its another historical thriller of sorts which swaps the eastern europe of vlad. Kostovas new novel, the swan thieves, is considerably less bloody but every bit as thoughtprovoking and suspenseful.
Ive been looking forward to the swan thieves for months and months and months, ever since i heard that elizabeth kostova had a new book coming out. While listening to the swan thieves i found myself wondering if the difference i was experiencing was due to the audio versus print experience. Psychiatrist andrew marlowe has a perfectly ordered lifesolitary, perhaps, but full of devotion to his profession and the painting hobby he loves. The swan thieves deschutes public library overdrive. Kostovas masterful new novel travels from american cities to the coast of normandy. Kostovas masterful new novel travels from american cities to the coast of normandy, from the late. Psychiatrist andrew marlow has a perfectly ordered lifesolitary, perhaps, but full of devotion to his profession and the hobby he loves.
Art, love and crime the swan thieves, elizabeth kostovas followup to her 2005 novel the historian, revolves around twin stories. And the swan thieves is a novel well worth reading. After he attempts to slash the painting leda at the national gallery in washington, d. I wanted to give swan thieves book 5 stars but im afraid i can only give it 3 in good faith. In elizabeth kostova s, the swan thieves, the main protagonist, a psychiatrist named marlow who provides care for patients in an expensive private mental institution, makes decisions about one particular patients care that breach professional and ethical boundaries in ways that set my teeth on edge. The story essentially opens with robert attempting to slash the leda, a painting at the national gallery in washington d. When robert oliver is brought to goldengrove a livein psychiatric facility after attempting to attack a painting with a knife, he speaks to dr.