Master Class [Mass Market Paperback]

Paul West (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1992

A young American art historian is left holding two priceless works of art when his Italian lover dies, and in trying to bring them to auction, he gets embroiled in a the murder case of a famous artist. Reprint. PW.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Most readers will undoubtedly devour each page of West's thriller, then eagerly press the book on friends. This tale of intrigue and murder set amid the international art world features an engaging hero who is rapidly graduating from novice to accomplished rogue while wrestling with his conscience. Art historian Max Mather is a not-quite-kept man, repaying the attentions lavished on him by an Italian millionairess with scholarship devoted to her family archives. Upon her untimely death, the partroness leaves Max his choice of a memento to be selected from the family holdings, whereupon he picks a wrapped package containing what may be Raphael drawings that would be valued well beyond what she, and certainly the other heirs, intended. To avoid a legal battle and establish proper provenance, he masks his ownership and sets up an elaborate scam to have the work "discovered." Involving his ex-lover, gallery owner Anne-Marie Loredon, in this effort, he becomes enmeshed in the tangled web surrounding the recent brutal murder of a promising artist. The two stories eventually intertwine in a fast-paced modern morality tale. Masterclass is a world-class thriller. 100,000 first printing; $100,000 ad/promo.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Inside Flap

The Bookcassette® format is a special recording technique developed as a means of condensing the full, unabridged audio text of a book to record it on fewer tapes. In order to listen to these tapes, you will need a cassette player with balance control to adjust left/right speaker output. Special adaptors to allow these tapes to be played on any cassette player are available through the publisher or some US retail electronics stores. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 369 pages
• Publisher: St Martins (April 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312927673
• ISBN-13: 978-0312927677
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,861,298 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Moderately Good Read, March 2, 2002

By 

Imperial Topaz (Marrakesh, Morocco) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Master Class (Mass Market Paperback)

The story of an art hisorian's personal growth and transformation into a better person than he was previously. Masterful development of characters, and a moderately interesting story, but I never felt like I couldn't put the book down. The ending was realistic, and moderately satisfying. A well-written book, but not as good as some of his other books.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Great Visuals-Bad Storyline, January 11, 2001

By 

Steve Bradford (Frederick, Maryland USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Masterclass (Hardcover)

Morris West's "Master Class" paints a vivid, if not overworn, plot of an American concubine Max Mathers living in Italy under the shadow of Pia, his elder lover. Upon her death, her will gives him access to any 2 of her antiquities. His knowledge of art finds him 2 rare Rafaels. After that, the plot becomes watered-down to its lowest common denominator. Writer Morris West, however, is incredibly well-knowledgeable and versed in international history and geography. His brush paints vivid charecters within concise arenas. His 'Gisella Mund' is a perfect charecter with incredible insight and depth. Kudos to his genuinity in writing. I only wish the plot equaled his charecters!

5.0 out of 5 stars Master Class from a master, June 21, 2011

By 

P. A. Lawless (Durham, NC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Masterclass (Hardcover)

Master Class is an intriguing exploration of law and morality, set in an exotic Italian/New york venue. It begins with a sweet relationship in Italy, but swiftly moves into a world of art, art intrigue, and finally, what it means to be faithful to an ideal.

I have passed this book to many other people, and all enjoyed it very much. I have reread it at least three times, and I plan to do it at least one more. The subtle changes come without warning, and the words that convey them are most artful. Of all of Morris West's books, this is my favorite.