THE BOOK FAIR

Review:

A beloved portrait painted by the artist, Vermeer, too poor to feed his family in 17th Century Holland, survives three hundred years of coveted ownerships.  Vreeland opens the novel with the most recent transaction of the portrait.

 

The explosive, first story relates the theft of the Vermeer painting by a Nazi.  The following story describes the violent details of the theft during WW II.  In the subsequent vignettes, as the painting exchanges hands, each owner relates the story of their possession, and the effect of the painting on their lives.  With each exchange of ownership, the painting draws closer to its original owner.

 

Beautifully written, dramatic visuals of historic scenes.  Recommended.