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Vanished Smile: The Mysterious Theft of the Mona Lisa Audiobook
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(3.70) - 20 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
On August 21, 1911, the unfathomable happened–Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa vanished from the Louvre. More than twenty-four hours passed before museum officials realized she was gone. The prime suspects were as shocking as the crime: Pablo Picasso and Guillaume Apollinaire, young provocateurs of a new art. As French detectives using the latest methods of criminology, including fingerprinting, tried to trace the thieves, a burgeoning international media hyped news of the heist. No story captured the imagination of the world quite like this one. Thousands flocked to the Louvre to see the empty space where the painting had hung. They mourned as if Mona Lisa were a lost loved one, left flowers and notes, and set new attendance records. For more than two years, Mona Lisa’s absence haunted the art world, provoking the question: Was she lost forever? A century later, questions still linger. Part love story, part mystery, Vanished Smile reopens the case of the most audacious and perplexing art theft ever committed. R. A. Scotti’s riveting, ingeniously realized account is itself a masterly portrait of a world in transition. Combining her skills as a historian and a novelist, Scotti turns the tantalizing clues into a story of the painting’s transformation into the most familiar and lasting icon of all time.
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"Another wonderful addition to the saga of the Belle Epoque/Gilded Age, as found in books such as "Eiffel's Tower" and "The Devil in the White City". Beautifully concise and a wonderful snap shot of life in Paris at that time. "
— Daniel (4 out of 5 stars)
Awards
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A 2010 Edgar Allan Poe Award Nominee for Best Fact Crime
Vanished Smile Listener Reviews
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" The beginning of the book - the theft and history of the painting were very well written and interesting. The last third of the book the author wanders into the motivations and possible true stories of the thieves. I found this last portion misplaced. It seemed less fact and more fiction. "
— Katie, 4/7/2011 -
" Not bad for a non fiction book. I had no idea what happened with the painting so I learned a lot. Worth the read. And now I feel smarter LOL. "
— Terri, 2/15/2011 -
" One of those great non-fiction books that has you saying "Wow, did you know..." every other page. I'm sure my husband got tired of random facts about the Mona Lisa, the Louvre, Picasso, etc. but I did not. "
— Trina, 11/2/2010 -
" I definitely got a lot more appreciation for the Mona Lisa reading this book. Great book! "
— Jessica, 10/8/2010 -
" Interesting read, never knew the Mona Lisa was stolen in 1911 or took 3 years to recover. A few tangential stories (i.e. about Picasso and the history of the Mona Lisa) but they did not drag on and therefore did not significantly detract from the quality of the book. "
— Josh, 10/8/2010 -
" The fascinating story of how the Mona Lisa was stolen from the Louvre in 1911 and remained missing for two years. There's plenty of background about the famous painting itself as well as its creator. All very well told. "
— Jenny, 8/22/2010 -
" I felt like I really learned a ton reading this book but it was entertaining at the same time. I'll read her again. "
— Angela, 7/1/2010 -
" I really enjoyed this after recently visiting Paris and the Louvre. <br/>Very interesting!!! "
— Toni, 6/26/2010 -
" Really interesting for art history fans. I loved reading about the theft of the Mona Lisa back in 1911 and how they got it back. There is lots of background info about who the woman is as well. A fun read. "
— Kara, 6/17/2010
About R. A. Scotti
R. A. Scotti is the author of three previous works of nonfiction, including Basilica: The Splendor and the Scandal–Building St. Peter’s and Sudden Sea: The Great Hurricane of 1938, and four novels. She lives in New York City.
About Kathe Mazur
Kathe Mazur has narrated many audiobooks, winning the prestigious Audie Award for best narration in 2014, being named a finalist for the Audie Award in 2013 and 2015, and winning several AudioFile Earphones Awards. As an actress, she can be seen as DDA Hobbs on The Closer and in the upcoming Major Crimes. She has worked extensively in film, theater, and television, including appearances on Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice, House, Brothers and Sisters, Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior, ER, Monk, and many others.