- Paperback: 272 pages
- Publisher: HarperCollins; (Reissue) edition (6 April 1999)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0006490263
- ISBN-13: 978-0006490265
- Product Dimensions: 17.6 x 10.4 x 2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 708,460 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Review
‘An elegant and amusing book, perfect for those who love a clever puzzle’
Frances Hegarty, Mail on Sunday
‘Iain Pears has a superior line in this kind of tale… A divertingly complex, often comic, story in which the art motif is ingeniously central to the solution’
Guardian
‘Giotto’s Hand provides a wry and illuminating portrait of the often devious world of fine art’
Val McDermid
Review
Praise for 'Giotto's Hand': 'An elegant and amusing book, perfect for those who love a clever puzzle' Mail on Sunday 'Iain Pears has a superior line in this kind of tale! A divertingly complex, often comic, story in which the art motif is ingeniously central to the solution' Guardian "Giotto's Hand' provides a wry and illuminating portrait of the often devious world of fine art' Val McDermid Praise for 'The Portrait': 'A wonderful, grimly entertaining novel.' Sunday Telegraph 'A revenge fantasy to relish.' Independent on Sunday 'Genuinely creepy.' The Times 'An exquisite miniature that explores the roles of artist and critic with wit and gore.' Evening Standard 'This is an atmospheric tour de force of historical writing, as it is of narrative skill.' Independent 'Taut, disturbing!full of interesting observations about the late nineteenth -- and early twentieth-century art world!mesmerising.' Spectator
--This text refers to an alternate
Paperback
edition.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
My first Iain Pears book and an excellent start. I found the story engrossing, the art world background fascinating and the cast of main characters believable.
Its a very different approach to the detective story with no full on policemen. There are 2 great characters from the Italian art crime squad battling with art crime, internal politics, the Italian state system, and their own mixture of fiery and sleepy Italian nature. There is also an inquisitive, slightly restless and not very good (i.e too moral) art dealer who has a nose for research and a love for the female art crime squad detective.
They approach different elements of the crime and this keeps the interest going really well. The criminal is a lovable if slightly barmy individual and works well into the story.
I'm a keen Donna Leon fan and that brought me to this book and while not up to Leon's descriptive style it was really enjoyable and i want to find out more about Flavia, Argyll and Bottando.
I love books where I learn something, I'm entertained and where there is a real feeling for atmosphere and this book fits the bill.
Its a very different approach to the detective story with no full on policemen. There are 2 great characters from the Italian art crime squad battling with art crime, internal politics, the Italian state system, and their own mixture of fiery and sleepy Italian nature. There is also an inquisitive, slightly restless and not very good (i.e too moral) art dealer who has a nose for research and a love for the female art crime squad detective.
They approach different elements of the crime and this keeps the interest going really well. The criminal is a lovable if slightly barmy individual and works well into the story.
I'm a keen Donna Leon fan and that brought me to this book and while not up to Leon's descriptive style it was really enjoyable and i want to find out more about Flavia, Argyll and Bottando.
I love books where I learn something, I'm entertained and where there is a real feeling for atmosphere and this book fits the bill.
16 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
One of the best mystery novels I've read in a long time. Iain Pears is a far better writer of detective novels than Mccabe or Christie. The novel is an easy read without being too simplistic and holds one's attention.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good mystery.
Format:Paperback
For me, this was a surprisingly light and fast read - started and finished almost in an evening.
The story begins in Tuscany with a rather complicated description of departmental politics - but don't let this put you off. Apparently, the 'art theft' department has to prove itself and defend it's methods against an interloper who is all politics and no substance. This opportunity is given in the form of a cryptic note, which opens up a number of unsolved cases - in themselves, open to question. The story develops as the members of the art theft department scrabble to unravel the obvious and the not so obvious.
The most enjoyable part of this book are the twists and double twists. At first, I was bothered that I couldn't really get to grips with the characters, many of whom seem to be little more than cardboard cutouts. However, being patient with this allowed me to really appreciate the denouement which, without giving too much away, hinges on something of a mind game. Definitely worth a read.
The story begins in Tuscany with a rather complicated description of departmental politics - but don't let this put you off. Apparently, the 'art theft' department has to prove itself and defend it's methods against an interloper who is all politics and no substance. This opportunity is given in the form of a cryptic note, which opens up a number of unsolved cases - in themselves, open to question. The story develops as the members of the art theft department scrabble to unravel the obvious and the not so obvious.
The most enjoyable part of this book are the twists and double twists. At first, I was bothered that I couldn't really get to grips with the characters, many of whom seem to be little more than cardboard cutouts. However, being patient with this allowed me to really appreciate the denouement which, without giving too much away, hinges on something of a mind game. Definitely worth a read.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Pleasantly readable; decidedly NOT a thriller!
I found "Giotto's Hand" a nice unchallenging, relaxing read, in the course of which I learned a surprising amount about the world of art dealing (although, as other reviewers have... Read more
Published on 30 Mar 2010 by T. D. Welsh
Amusing Whodunnit
This was an enjoyable and amusing "whodunnit" which harked back to the Golden Age of crime novels, with its setting in a Miss Marple-ish village where the local Lady of the Manor... Read more
Published on 16 Feb 2010 by Beebarf
Misleading!!!
This book is called "Giotto's hand", it is based around art theft, involves an art dealer and an art detection agency and is written by an art historian. Read more
Published on 13 April 2006 by Christopher Allen
shallow and uninspiring
With virtually no depth to the leading characters and a catatonically unexciting plot, this book is like a "young readers" detective story, or a re-written novel for learners of... Read more
Published on 16 Feb 2004 by Dobester
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