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summerkoz 's review for:
Stolen Beauty
by Laurie Lico Albanese
3.5-4 stars.
This book is based on a true story. There is a movie and a nonfiction version of this story.
Gustav Klimt prior to WWII painted two portraits of Adele Bloch-Bauer a rich jewish patron of the arts. Adele and her husband were avid collectors of art. Adele requested that when she died her husband donate the paintings to a museum in Vienna (where she and Klimt worked). The museum used this "will" to keep one of the paintings it obtained from the Nazi's who stole the painting from Adele's husband during WWII (the rightful owner). Adele's niece Maria, the rightful heir, actually took on Austria to get back this painting worth over $135 million dollars. She took the country of Austria all the way to the supreme court.
The book alternates between Adele and Maria. We learn about Adele and her desire to learn about art and life. Adele dies before WWII. The story then veers to Maria and what she remembers of her aunt and how Maria made it through WWII and her quest to get this painting back. It is a very interesting story and I recommend reading or watching some version of it.
This book is based on a true story. There is a movie and a nonfiction version of this story.
Gustav Klimt prior to WWII painted two portraits of Adele Bloch-Bauer a rich jewish patron of the arts. Adele and her husband were avid collectors of art. Adele requested that when she died her husband donate the paintings to a museum in Vienna (where she and Klimt worked). The museum used this "will" to keep one of the paintings it obtained from the Nazi's who stole the painting from Adele's husband during WWII (the rightful owner). Adele's niece Maria, the rightful heir, actually took on Austria to get back this painting worth over $135 million dollars. She took the country of Austria all the way to the supreme court.
The book alternates between Adele and Maria. We learn about Adele and her desire to learn about art and life. Adele dies before WWII. The story then veers to Maria and what she remembers of her aunt and how Maria made it through WWII and her quest to get this painting back. It is a very interesting story and I recommend reading or watching some version of it.