Did anyone else wince at the way the priceless documents in the story (the Pandosto, etc.) were bounced around from box to envelope to briefcase to coffee table to squad car? As a book lover, this created more tension for me than the idea that a murderer was on the loose. “[Peter] felt only a slight pang of loss as the officer tossed the Pandosto into the car and it disappeared from view” (p. 339). Ouch.
I think so. From the descriptions in the book, forgery seems to be a craft that requires an enormous amount of skill (and patience). Anyone ever hear of Wolfgang Beltracchi?
^ True. I looked to see if there is a generally accepted distinction between “art” and “craft.” It’s an ongoing debate, but one proposed starting point is that art is created with the intent to express an idea or evoke an emotion, whereas craft aims to create a specific product, which must be made according to a clearly defined set of rules. (Under those guidelines, forgery would fall into the craft category.) Of course, there’s a lot of overlap.
It’s an ongoing issue at our art association. We always have people who want their crafts to be judged in the sculpture category. We don’t object, but they often lose out on prize money because of their insistence.
I’d like to believe Shakespeare was the author of his works. And yes, I believe forgeries have value in and of themselves. I find I’m struggling to contribute anything meaningful to the discussion here!
There’s not a lot of “meat” to The Bookman’s Tale, so I don’t think it inspires deep analytical insights for any of us.
However, I’m glad I read it (I know, I always say that) (but really I am!) because it’s given me a chance to read up on Shakespeare and forgery and medieval libraries. But like ignatius, I’m glad I checked this one out of the library.
I suspect we won’t spend a lot of time on the book, but we can zip through a few more of the discussion questions, in case there are any salient plot points to talk about.
I didn’t like Philip Gardner. I think everything he did was for his own comfort. He was a rather icky fellow, if you ask me. (TMI re his visits to the seedier areas of Covent Garden.) I wasn’t convinced that Isabel was his one great love; I think she was just a (sexual) novelty for him. I don’t know what she saw in him. We don’t get to know her that well.
He was definitely icky and shallow. He only decided he loved Isabel after his wife called him out on the affair. Philip was all about Philip being comfortable.
I’m with @PlantMom re: contributing anything meaningful to the discussion – or my lack thereof …
I’ve read several books from a mystery series involving art forgeries. (I grab them for free when they show up as Kindle “deals.”) In these books it always seems as if it’s fairly easy for a master forger to pass off paintings as the real deal, convincing all the so-called experts, passing all the tests, etc. I figure this is just fiction/part of the storyline in these books – but I guess it does happen, at least once in a while?
Also not a fan of Philip – married only for access to his wife’s money.
I guess so! I would have thought that in this day and age forgeries could be spotted easily, but the Wolfgang Beltracchi story proves otherwise. Did anyone read The Art Forger by B.A. Shapiro? http://www.amazon.com/The-Art-Forger-A-Novel/dp/1616203161.
It was a NYT bestseller for a while—we may have even considered it at one point? Now that I’ve dipped a little into art forgery with our current selection, I might pick it up for fun one day, unless advised otherwise.
P.S. Making meaningful comments is not a requirement of this book club. It’s not even in the by-laws! You can go ahead and report on what you had for breakfast and it will be greeted with enthusiasm. I just enjoy spending time with all of you every other month.
(cup of coffee with cream, no sugar, and a bowl of Puffins cereal)
Yes, the sex in the library really annoyed me too.
I think one reason forgers often succeed for so long is that people want to believe. It’s like everyone believing Madoff even if his investment results were too good to be true. I’m amused that people are now forging Han van Meegeren forgeries! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Han_van_Meegeren Did anyone enjoy watching White Castle about a forger and con artist who works with the FBI?
Yes, I own the game (got it for Christmas) and so do both of my daughters. So much fun filling my bookcase with one book from each genre.
The Art Forger was the correct answer to a board game question (which I got right, may I add.) I also collected books when I answered Wide Sargasso Sea and Thomas Hardy at just the right times. :-B I have yet to win the game though because I hit some nasty cards that say that I left a book on a bus or in the rain - which of course I’d never do. I hate giving up one of my little books and having to try to answer questions in that genre again.
Highly recommend (for any who love to read and for those of us with librarian daughters, of course).
“[Peter] felt only a slight pang of loss as the officer tossed the Pandosto into the car and it disappeared from view” (p. 339). Ouch.