Customer Reviews

Vanished Smile: The Mysterious Theft of Mona Lisa

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(21)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"Vanished Smile" by R.A. Scotti is a fascinating account of the theft of Leonardo da Vinci's 'Mona Lisa' from the Musee de Louvre in 1911. A skilled writer who has previously produced both fiction and nonfiction books, Ms. Scotti is true to the historic specificity of the events but tells the tale with the verve and intrigue of a first-rate crime novelist. The result is an engrossing and entertaining read that should appeal to a wide audience, especially all those interested in art, history, or real-life mysteries.

Ms. Scotti leads us through the bizarre sequence of events that surrounded this, the crime of the 20th century. We become acquainted with an array of colorful personalities, from museum curators, petty criminals, forgers, police detectives and famous individuals including Guillaume Apollinaire and Pablo Picasso. We are taken back to a time where we understand how the unfolding drama captivated international audiences and ultimately helped to elevate the Mona Lisa to its present status as the world's most well-known painting.

Sandwiched between her narrative, Ms. Scotti includes an absorbing profile and short history of Leonardo and the Mona Lisa. She discusses the artists' life and times as well as his innovative painting techniques that combined to produce one of the most enduring works of art. The shrewd placement of this excursus in the middle of the text serves to heighten the suspense if not deepen the reader's appreciation of the Mona Lisa as both a brilliant technical achievement and cultural icon.

In the latter part of the book, Ms. Scotti relates how the perpetrator was finally apprehended while suggesting that unknown others may well have been involved in the heist. Ms. Scotti successfully invokes the enduring mystery about the crime, retelling a washed-up journalist's fanciful yarn that suggests there may have been far more to the story than has been generally recognized. As the author recounts how the Mona Lisa was eventualy recovered and later toured the world to great acclaim, she tantalizingly suggests that the full truth surrounding the theft of the Mona Lisa remains as mysterious to us today as her timelessly captivating and enigmatic smile.

I highly recommend this book to everyone.

R. A. Scotti makes history FUN! VANISHED SMILE: THE MYSTERIOUS THEFT OF MONA LISA reads like a who-dunnit mystery. She starts with the 1911 theft, then follows along with the investigation as conducted by French officials. Never letting on as to the who as she tells the story of the how. False trails lead to the implication of Pablo Picasso! But, two years later the real thief emerges from the shadows.

I won't spoil the ending for you! R.A. Scotti examines contempory as well as later theories as to the WHY of the theft. Included along the way, you'll find lots of information about the history of the Mona Lisa and her creator, Leonardo da Vinci. All of which makes for a fast paced, interesting jaunt through one of history's little "side-shows."

Perhaps, like me, you'd never heard about "l'Affaire de la Joconde." It's a story worth learning. One of those strange tales that could happen in ONLY real life!

I give VANISHED SMILE by R.A. Scotti FIVE STARS!! Great writing style, a marvelous story, and thought provoking discussion of the possible "unknowns" of the entire case and history of the Mona Lisa. A few illustrations help the story along. As I said, it reads more like a who-dunnit mystery than a non-fiction history book. This is a book that anybody who likes art, Da Vinci, history or mystery could enjoy. Worthwhile, enjoyable reading.

Though the mastermind behind the theft of the Mona Lisa nearly a century ago may never be known, this book is a well written presentation of the event.

It's not often that "page-turner" and "non-fiction" are used together, but this is both. Scotti's style is to tell the story without unnecessary embellishment. It flowed nicely and the pieces of the puzzle fit together well.

She provides a needed sketch of da Vinci plus the birth and development of the Mona Lisa. She also gives us a fascinating look at the four hundred years of the painting's travels and travails leading up to the theft; as well as its last hundred years' journies.

This book held my attention throughout, and though it is not a long book but it was long enough to treat the story in sufficient detail. This was certainly entertaining and I highly recommend it.

I find it hilarious that one of the critical Amazon reviews of "Vanished Smile" compared it unfavorably to Dan Brown! Perhaps the reader was expecting Leonardo DaVinci to jump out of a helicopter, or to find out that Mona Lisa herself was a long lost ancestor of Christ's. You'll find neither of those things in R.A. Scotti's compact account of the daring theft of history's most famous painting and its bizarre, twisted aftermath. What you will find is clear, beautifully written, well-researched journalism. As other's have pointed out, Scotti's done a terrific job of laying out the facts with flair, humor and, in the end, tremendous heart. This is the kind of stranger-than-fiction tale that even Dan Brown wouldn't have the guts to concoct -- and it's all true. Well, maybe not ALL true. What do I mean? You'll just have to read the book to find out. And I really don't think you'll miss the helicopter.

Based on a true incident in 1911 which I was totally unaware of, the story presents a blase French security system in the Louvre which allows someone to virtually walk away with the painting. Wow, we are not only treated to a great crime caper, but also gain wonderful knowledge of Da Vinci and other artists of his time. And for good measure, we see what a "stinker" Picasso was. Enjoyed this book immensely.

I started this book unsure of what to expect, but found myself so intrigued that I couldn't put it down. I knew the history before I started but Scotti wields her words like a paint brush, bring these historical figures to life with such beautiful detail that you feel as though you are there. Each time a chapter comes to an end you think how can the next compare and yet each one is perfectly put together and so satisfying that I am sure I am not the only one to have a hard time putting this book down.
I have been trying to decide which part if my favorite however that is a hard task because I feel that each section so compliments the one before and after that they all just meld into a beautiful, thought provoking story.
This is not just a book for history buffs of art enthusiasts, this is the kind of book that everyone should read, because, as with her previous book Basilica, Scotti deftly weaves history and fact with vivid characters and cheeky whit so that you never feel as though you are reading a history text, instead you are drawn into a wonderful story (the history lesson is an added bonus).
Everyone really should rush out and buy this book, it is well worth it. Enjoy!

R.A. Scotti provides us with a very-readable crime story in the book "Vanished Smile: The Mysterious theft of Mona Lisa". In 1911, a thief brazenly walked off with the most famous painting in the most famous art museum in the world. For almost two years, the world wondered where it went.

Scotti writes the book in a style of a crime novel, where the story is told in the chronological order in which the story unfolded. In the opening chapters, a mysterious character promises a wealthy businessman an exclusive deal - sole possession of an exclusive painting.

A few pages later, Scott retells the story of the theft and the following investigation. The author also describes the organizational fall-out, specifically the termination of the director of the Louvre. The story is told in a flowing and very readable format.

For readers like me who are unfamiliar with the art world, Scotti provides a history of the Mona Lisa, or La Jaconde, as it is known in France. Who was this mysterious woman? Scotti provides the readers with an overview of the most likely explanation. In the advance reading copy, this chapter is inserted into the middle of the book. It is useful information, but the placement of the chapter breaks the flow of the story. This is my only major complaint for this otherwise great book.

After the intensive investigation failed to recover the Mona Lisa, the world was ready to accept the fact the original painting was lost forever. But in 1913, the thief came forward and admitted to the crime. He provided a plausible explanation for the story, which the investigators readily accepted. However, a star reporter for William Rudolph Hearst, who created the "You provide the picture and I'll provide the war" style of journalism, thought there was much more to the story. After waiting for the original mastermind to pass away, Karl Decker broke his story in a 1932 edition of the "Saturday Evening Post" revealing the true motivation behind the crime.

As a reader who is unfamiliar with art history, "Vanished Smile" was both an educational and entertaining read.

This review is from an advance reading copy of the book.

The theft of the Mona Lisa was something I vauguely recall hearing about, so I think. And when I saw this book was out, I decided to pick it up becuase the true mysteries are great.

The Mona Lisa went missing in the early 1900s,thought fortunately she came back home. The whole story comes together in a book that is written like fiction, both from the fact that it keeps you reading like any thriller out there and the fact that there are some many little twists and what ifs/was that it is implausible.

Picasso an art thief? Maybe.....

A great work on the ystery, the painitng itself and of the times when this all occurred. Very well done and R.A. Scotti put together a highly entertianing historical work.

In 1911 da Vinci's Mona Lisa vanished from the Louvre, sparking years of mystery, sadness, and debate. Much has been written over the decades on the disappearance and a century later questions still remain. This story of the event adds a suspenseful account of an art world and society in flux, offering a powerful analysis of public concern and temperament of the times. General-interest collections will love it.

The story of the theft of Mona Lisa goes well beyond a "point A to point B heist". What is well crafted is the entire story of Mona Lisa and the surrounding mystery of who the woman was, and how she (along with other works) found their way to the French. This is the type of book that makes history come alive and helps paint a picture (pun intended) of the circumstances, political environment, and the people that make a story like this fascinating. Highly recommended!