The Art Thief: A True Story of Love, Crime, and a Dangerous Obsession by Michael Finkel is an unbelievable non-fiction tale that reads like the most page-turning of novels. Art, theft, passion, and betrayal…this book has it all! I feel the need to keep this blog short and sweet, as giving too many of the details of the story would take away from what is a mesmerizing read.   

The Art Thief is about Stéphane Breitwieser, a burglar extraordinaire who averaged a theft every 12 days for seven years from various museums, galleries and historical sites across Europe. During the 1990s and into the 2000s, Breitwieser would walk into these museums, often with his girlfriend Anne-Catherine Kleinklaus at his side, and without a preconceived plan, quite easily leave with a piece of art. Finkel writes of these thefts in a tantalizing manner, with many a chapter ending as a cliff hanger. Having the knowledge gained from working as a museum guard for a mere month and often only a Swiss army knife in his tool kit, Breitwieser succeeded time and again at these crimes. 

Unlike most art thieves, Breitwieser did not steal to profit financially from the items. His crimes were driven by an intense passion for art. He never sold the items that he stole. He kept them all, hundreds of objects, in an attic in his mother’s house where he and his girlfriend lived. To provide context for the thefts, Finkel presents analysis and information about the psychology of Breitwieser, possible motivations for his thefts and fascinating discussions of the obsessions that can drive collectors of beloved objects.   

Finkel spent a lengthy 11 years working on this project, from the first time that he wrote to Breitwieser seeking an interview, to the publication of the book—and his desire to paint a complete picture certainly shows. Breitwieser is an eccentric, intelligent and driven character, and it is spellbinding to learn how his story unfolds. The Art Thief is definitely a non-fiction must read!