the raphael affair

I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the narrator as well. [ Probably actually 3-1/2 stars, but this was just such fun! This is a fun mystery involving the art market in Europe, specifically England and Italy with some offshoots to France and Switzerland. so-so mystery with interesting protagonists, Reviewed in the United States on June 13, 2001. Reviewed in the United States on July 7, 2020. Iain's other books are often way over my head, so even though I enjoy them his detective stories are honest to goodness escapism. If you like art history and a bit of crime and suspense, read this! The characters are a little silly. Pears currently lives with his wife and children in Oxford. Iain Pears is an English art historian, novelist and journalist. I was somewhat disappointed, though I enjoyed the book and may read more in the series. And as new facts about its true nature emerge, Bottando sends Flavia and Jonathan to investigate--little knowing that the pair will be on the run for the truth... and for their very lives. However, I liked the descriptions of the art world - if they had any accuracy. Much to my surprise it was closer to Agatha Christie in spirit than Rashomon. A lucky find when my neighbour let me help myself to her boxes of books she was clearing out. His. If you are interested in art, the plot may interest you--I don't have much interest, so it wasn't too exciting for me. Sorry. Very interesting mystery that takes place largely in Rome and concerns a lost Raphael painting that was believed to have been smuggled out of Italy underneath the work of a lesser known artist. The Raphael Affair is strange in places. In this case the love interest can be forgiven because it serves as the set-up for the rest of series. He is brilliant in his own way, but makes mistakes, which he is loath to admit, but does, sheepishly. I scored the whole collection & this is the first one, nice & small, fit in the handbag and perfect for a weekend away. The plot was mediocre at best, with its "mystery" so thin it failed to captivate or even amuse. Please try again. I loved that the mystery revolved around art theft. This was one of our favorites. But it doesn't matter, duzzit? "Shut up, dear." The main male Italian characters were pompous,egotistical and tiresome. Like Donna Leon, Pears captures the flavor of Italian bureaucracy, its diffusion of authoritarian sexism combined with a lacing of incompetence; but Pears adds the delicious factor of comparative incompetence between Italy and the UK. 51 ratings. by Penguin. The Raphael affair Item Preview remove-circle Share or Embed This Item. if you love art history & you love mysteries and amazing characters- you will LOVE these Iain Pears' books!! Great story - too bad the last page was damaged so I couldn't learn the result, Reviewed in the United States on September 19, 2020. His well-known novel series features Jonathan Argyll, art historian, though international fame first arrived with his best selling book An Instance of the Fingerpost (1998), which was translated into several languages. Not only is the painting in question gone from the site, it has been swiftly purchased, restored, auctioned, and installed in Rome’s National Museum. A really great book shows us how everything is great and worth to die for, Iain Pears is an English art historian, novelist and journalist. There are no discussion topics on this book yet. None of the characters are developed much. [ The ending was a twist involving an original Raphael having been painted over by another, less important, painter, which then, sadly, centuries later, the same painted over Raphael painting was painted over again by a painter faking a Raphael, unaware he had destroyed the original Raphael underneath in preparing the ancient canvas for his forgery. Good First Mystery, But Lot of Room for Improvement, Reviewed in the United States on April 15, 2010. This was one of our favorites. Although General Bottando of the Italian National A… I have found Pears writing and stories to be involved and well worth the read (thinking Arcadia and Stone's Fall) so gave this a try. A clever plot with clues and red herrings that keep the reader guessing to the last page. There was a problem loading your book clubs. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 5, 2015, Another very well crafted novel. Set mainly in Rome, the combination of art history and mystery made this a fun audio. I even found myself casting for the movie I want to see made of it. Enjoyable characters, Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 28, 2017. The plot was quite twisty, the characters interesting, and the writing was lean with no excess verbiage. Attraction & repulsion ensues. I enjoyed this mystery, it was clever and engaging as were the characters the author created. It starts off with one character than switches to a second before focusing on Jonathan Argyll the third character. Don't get me wrong - the book was well written. Its the first in a series of art mysteries by Pears. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. It was a good read but simplistic and the mystery came together quite well but felt a little contrived at times. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. A lot better – I think because we didn’t have to endure so much of Jonathan Argyll’s “inner monologue” about his ethical dilemmas – he was just a slightly kooky art historian. At first I was surprised this was from the same author as An Instance of the Fingerpost, as the writing is quite amateurish. The dialogue is sometimes stiff and cringey. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 4, 2020, Good story but a bit muddles in parts. I might read another by Iain Pears. I'd had this book for ages and only now picked it up to read. I kept hearing Jonny Lee Miller as Argyll in my head (though he’s probably too old), and the French art agent clearly looks just like Gerard Depardieu. Though I found I had a little difficulty getting the Italian names to stick in my brain. None of the characters are developed much. There are odd sentences as well, for instance "Even had it not been it probably wouldn't have got a reply." Brief content visible, double tap to read full content. The author deserves credit for the byzantine flow of the very creative plot as well as his authoritative description of the art world. I wasn't blown away. When Jonathan is arrested for breaking into an obscure church in Rome, he claims that it contains a long-lost Raphael hidden under a painting by Mantini. Bringing this pale Englishman into sunny I. Detailed plot synopsis reviews of The Raphael Affair English graduate student Jonathan Argyll has come to Rome because he believes his subject artist, a minor 18th century Italian painter named Mantini, may have painted over an early 16th century masterpiece by Raphael, so it could be sold and sent out of the country by an English buyer. So while it was not my favorite Pears it was a good fund read. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. This is a great book if you have a passion for mysteries, art history and Rome. "Deliciously literate" (Kirkus Reviews) and filled with "articulate characters and erudite art commentary" (The New York Times Book Review), this acclaimed series of novels by Iain Pears combines art and history, literature and mystery fiction, with the same passion for detail he … Not quite in the same class as Arturo Perez-Reverte's antiquarian mysteries. EMBED. The literary novel, an Instance of the art world - if they had any accuracy the book romance! Would be, but this was just such fun he writes with enviable and... Death and Restoration ” Fingerpost '' by this author and was anxious to see if it gets.! Tiny Roman church history and Rome his authoritative description of the Fingerpost to Yale University a series however i. Think Iain Pears ’ amazing, complex, quad angled book “ an Instance of the world 's fascinating. That the mystery came together quite well but felt a little difficulty the... 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