Title: The Lady in Gold: The Extraordinary Tale of Gustav Klimt’s Masterpiece, Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer
Author: Anne-Marie O’Connor
First published February 7, 2012
370 pages, Kindle Edition
Rating: 3.97
Overview
The residents of London are in awe of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, and Miss Caroline Andrews is no exception. Her fascination with the book is piqued when she witnesses the enigmatic Duke of Trent sneaking back to his residence in the early hours of the morning while carrying a shovel.
Driven by her curiosity, she sneaks into his chamber, only to be caught by the Duke in his most vulnerable state.
The Duke of Trent has more pressing matters to attend to than a group of women who are passionate about literature.
However, his plans to save his family from financial ruin may be jeopardized when he discovers Caroline hiding behind his curtains. What is this curious woman up to?
And why is he so drawn to her despite her meddling ways?
The Duke decides to play along, and when he captures the beautiful Caroline in all her glory, the night of mischief has only just begun.
About the Author
Anne-Marie O’Connor is an experienced foreign correspondent, who has reported on a wide range of topics throughout her career. She studied at Vassar and the San Francisco Art Institute before graduating from the University of California at Berkeley.
While there, she worked with other students to create a documentary about the suppression of mural artists in Chile after the 1973 military coup, which went on to win an award.
O’Connor has covered conflicts and political events in several countries, including El Salvador, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Peru, Haiti, and Panama. She has also reported on drug cartel violence in Mexico and written about figures such as Nelson Mandela, George Soros, Joan Didion, John McCain, and Maya Lin.
Her work has been featured in publications such as Esquire, The Nation, and The Christian Science Monitor.
Currently, O’Connor writes for The Washington Post from Jerusalem.
Editoral Review
The Lady in Gold: The Extraordinary Tale of Gustav Klimt’s Masterpiece, Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer is a non-fiction book by Anne-Marie O’Connor, first published in 2012. The book is a fascinating account of the painting’s history, its creation, and its journey from Vienna to New York.
Through the story of the painting and its intricate history, O’Connor takes us on a tour of the cultural, social and political upheavals that defined Europe in the early 20th century. With her expertise as an investigative journalist and a cultural critic, O’Connor provides a deep insight into the lives of Gustav Klimt, Adele Bloch-Bauer, and the world they occupied.
The book is a hybrid of art history and narrated events, written in an engaging and accessible manner. The story of The Lady in Gold traces the fate of the painting, the model, and her family across the tumultuous historical periods of World War I and World War II.
Along the way, we encounter an array of characters, among them wealthy patrons, Nazi officials, art thieves, art historians, and lawyers. Through the book, we discover the fascinating history of the Klimt masterpiece, which was stolen by the Nazis during World War II and rediscovered by a determined family and a young lawyer after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.
The book delves into the attempts by the Bloch-Bauer family to reclaim the painting from the Austrian government, a saga involving legal battles, cultural heritage debates, and Austria’s reluctance to confront its Nazi past. What makes The Lady in Gold a must-read is O’Connor’s meticulous approach to research, coupled with an intimate understanding of the world of art and the human condition.
The book offers a powerful commentary on the cultural and political inheritance of Europe in the 20th century and the resilience of individuals in the face of war, dispossession, and oppression. As much as The Lady in Gold is a complex and ambitious book, it is not perfect.
At times, the author’s passion and drift for details may feel somewhat overwhelming or detracting from the narrative. But the book compensates for this with a style that captivates and enthralls the reader.
The Lady in Gold is perfect for art lovers, history buffs, and anyone interested in cultural heritage and identity. It is a beautifully written book that offers a powerful critique of a tragic, yet triumphant, history of art and Europe.
I would give this book a 4 out of 5 rating, based on its unmatched depth and breadth of research, the author’s excellent writing technique, and the book’s ability to inspire readers.
