Not sure how I came across this fascinating account of the author's painstaking research to track down her art collector great grandfather's looted works which disappeared in Paris under the WWII occupation of Paris. It hums right along like one of the Art and Crime series on TV ending with a cliffhanger climax. ( )

Intriguée par l’histoire de la collection d’œuvres d’art de son arrière-grand-père juif qui a été vendue, ou volée dans les années 1940, les sources se contredisent, l’autrice mène l’enquête. Le récit du parcours chaotique, long, semé de fausses pistes, d’heureuses découvertes et de déceptions, d’une recherche de provenance. Un texte agréable à lire, qui se perd par moments dans les méandres des recherches et qui laisse un peu le lecteur sur sa faim, mais un thème, les restitutions d’œuvres spoliées par les nazis, on ne peut plus actuel et qui ne peut que bouleverser. ( )

I expected to like this book a lot more than I did. I think my problem had more to do with the fact I didn't care for the authorial voice, since I found the events both intriguing and at times heartbreaking.

The theft, or "appropriation," of artwork and not just the failure to return them but the seeming willingness of many to profit from such crimes because they could shift the responsibility for them onto an evil regime is angering.

While I didn't "enjoy" the book because of the voice, I am glad I read it and learned what I did. I also think my reaction is more personal than an objective reflection of the book, so I have no problem recommending this to readers with an interest in the aftermath of WWII, particularly anything having to do with Nazi atrocities. Those with an interest in art history or those who simply enjoy memoirs that are almost like a mystery will find plenty here to enjoy.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via Edelweiss. ( )

For anyone who has attempted to compile a personal family genealogy and then faced challenges even collecting any details about grandparents or great-grandparents, you will recognize some of the frustrations this author encounters and joy finding even the slightest piece of information. But since the author is also investigating art works stolen from her ancestors, the consequences may be greater, but the experience bears many similarities. That in no way minimizes the tragic events revealed in this story among the many Jewish families in Paris during the occupation. This was a quick read, and hard to put down. [A few internet searches show that now after publication, the beautiful Largilliere painting of Madame de Parabere is well described on the internet, and that it was recently sold.] ( )

In spite of the fact that the author deals with some fascinating topics -- art theft, ownership questions, questions of provenance for items in museum collections -- from a very personal standpoint, this quasi-memoir reads more like the personal misadventures of an amateur research. That's disappointing, because the author doesn't have the knack of making those forays into archives interesting, much less suspenseful or intriguing. I was also left rather incredulous by her apparent lack of knowledge or understanding of some of the issues involved, in light of the attention to the matter in the news. There are fragments of fascinating detail and experience of her own family, but overall, this was disappointing and even confusing. Were some of these items stolen or looted, or were they forced sales, or...? The lack of focus and clarity and structure makes this an underwhelming read. Particularly disappointing as I was hoping for a personal narrative that would dovetail with books like "The Rape of Europa" or writings about the Klimt painting, returned (eventually...) to its heirs, but nope. ( )