- Mass Market Paperback: 369 pages
- Publisher: St Martins Mass Market Paper; Reprint edition (April 1992)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0312927673
- ISBN-13: 978-0312927677
- Product Dimensions: 17.3 x 10.9 x 3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 5,464,756 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Review
West's 25th novel - a knockout, in-depth, hard-to-put-down show of the author's smarts about the art world, with a murder subplot. A young American in Italy, Max Mather is an art historian and paleologist (scholar of ancient manuscripts) hired by the Palombini family to care for their cache of old, old books and artworks. He's also Pia Palombini's lover, and when she dies, she wills him his choice of a gift from the cache. Looking over the treasures (they're mostly third-rate), he finds mention of a pair of Raphaels, commissioned by the Palombini family in 1605. And, lo, there they are - under a dusty pile, sealed in wax, uncatalogued and unknown to the world. He scoots off to a Zurich safe-deposit with them. Then he sets about becoming an art dealer in Manhattan, with ties in Europe, while plotting to boost the auction price of the paintings up to the $100 millions. He falls in with former lover Anne-Marie Loredon and joins her in setting up a fancy new Soho art gallery, which just happens to be in the building where a possibly great American painter, Madeleine Bayard, had her studio and was murdered. Max and Anne-Marie plan to exhibit the late Madeleine, though the solving of her murder is small stuff set beside Max's slyness in bringing the Raphaels to light in a way that won't have the Italian government compromising a sale of what they may claim to be their national treasures. Max enlists and is hired by Harmon Seldes (read Hilton Kramer), editor of Belvedere; works his way into the cold graces of Henri Berchmans, the world's top art dealer; parries with Edward Bayard, dead Madeleine's lawyer husband; digs up Niccolo Tolentino, who made copies of the two Raphaels in 1945; sets up a front corporation in Zurich to handle his dealings; and is drawn in by Hugh Loredon, Anne-Marie's terminally ill father who is a famed auctioneer and falsely accuses Max's lesbian editor on Belvedere of murdering Madeleine. Deft characters show us how the art world works. Hugely satisfying. (Kirkus Reviews)
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Product Description
This crime novel from the author of "The Shoes of the Fisherman", "The Devil's Advocate" among many others, is set in the art world. This is a world known intimately to the author who is a keen collector and has served on several arts committees.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The story of an art hisorian's personal growth and transformation into a better person than he was previously. Masterful development of characters, and a moderately interesting story, but I never felt like I couldn't put the book down. The ending was realistic, and moderately satisfying. A well-written book, but not as good as some of his other books.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4 reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
A Moderately Good Read
2 Mar 2002
Format:Mass Market Paperback
The story of an art hisorian's personal growth and transformation into a better person than he was previously. Masterful development of characters, and a moderately interesting story, but I never felt like I couldn't put the book down. The ending was realistic, and moderately satisfying. A well-written book, but not as good as some of his other books.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Great Visuals-Bad Storyline
12 Jan 2001
Format:Hardcover
Morris West's "Master Class" paints a vivid, if not overworn, plot of an American concubine Max Mathers living in Italy under the shadow of Pia, his elder lover. Upon her death, her will gives him access to any 2 of her antiquities. His knowledge of art finds him 2 rare Rafaels. After that, the plot becomes watered-down to its lowest common denominator. Writer Morris West, however, is incredibly well-knowledgeable and versed in international history and geography. His brush paints vivid charecters within concise arenas. His 'Gisella Mund' is a perfect charecter with incredible insight and depth. Kudos to his genuinity in writing. I only wish the plot equaled his charecters!
Master Class from a master
22 Jun 2011
Format:Hardcover
Master Class is an intriguing exploration of law and morality, set in an exotic Italian/New york venue. It begins with a sweet relationship in Italy, but swiftly moves into a world of art, art intrigue, and finally, what it means to be faithful to an ideal.
I have passed this book to many other people, and all enjoyed it very much. I have reread it at least three times, and I plan to do it at least one more. The subtle changes come without warning, and the words that convey them are most artful. Of all of Morris West's books, this is my favorite.
I have passed this book to many other people, and all enjoyed it very much. I have reread it at least three times, and I plan to do it at least one more. The subtle changes come without warning, and the words that convey them are most artful. Of all of Morris West's books, this is my favorite.
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