KING OF CONFESSORS

Rating:
Summary: Read and re-read!
Review: I read this book when it came out many years ago and my copy has been read and re-read many times over the years. It's a great non fiction book about an ivory cross that the former director of the Met found and pursued and finally purchased, after many setbacks and frustrations along the way. It brings you into the world of art, history, museums and museum directors and brings it all to life.
After I read it, I made sure I visited the Cloisters the next time I was in New York City to see the actual cross.
You mustn't miss both book and Cross!

Rating:
Summary: This book has haunted me for 16 years!
Review: This book had sat on my library shelf for 15 years. It was one of those book-of-the-month club selections that arrived because I was not quick enough to return the "no-return" card. For some reason, the other day I picked it up and glanced through it. It was interesting enough to start to read. It just took a few minutes to find I was hooked. It was one of those fascinating books that builds the mystery steadily enough to always entice you to read "just one more chapter" before putting it down. I am far from an art conniseur and have little interest in the art of the quality to be placed in the Metropolitan Museum. But Mr. Hoving does a marvelous job of playing to universal interests of intrique, mystery and suspense. It was enough to make me go immediately to this website to search for additional offerings by the same author. Shoot, it even makes me wonder if I am not interested a little in the "classy art" after all.

Rating:
Summary: Liars Poker at the Met
Review: This book is not for everyone, but if you like a good mystery story, where the heroes, villains, and bit players just happen to be real, historic people, this is for you ! Hoving is a great writer, who knows how to take a fairly simple story and lead you through all the twists and turns of byways, blind alleys, false hopes, and triumphs. You are with him every step of the way. A great vacation book, 330 pages on non-stop action.

Rating:
Summary: Fascinating true story of art world treasure hunting!
Review: This book was fabulous! Hoving makes the twists and turns of the research and tracking of a precious antiquity enthralling. The adventurous nature of this story is reminiscent of Indiana Jones movies...except it was real! An engaging and spellbinding tale of art history, research, intrigue and treasure hunting.

Rating:
Summary: Fascinating true story of art world treasure hunting!
Review: This book was fabulous! Hoving makes the twists and turns of the research and tracking of a precious antiquity enthralling. The adventurous nature of this story is reminiscent of Indiana Jones movies...except it was real! An engaging and spellbinding tale of art history, research, intrigue and treasure hunting.

Rating:
Summary: Better than fiction
Review: With as many twists and turns as any suspense novel, embark on the fascinating and true tale of a tenacious curator's quest for a mysterious 11th century ivory cross for New York's Metropolitan Museum. Highly recommended.