kne 's review for:

Stolen Beauty by Laurie Lico Albanese

3.0

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I really enjoyed seeing Klimt's paintings in the Belvedere when I went in 2006, and of course Judith particularly stuck out. This book really brought the world of fin de siècle Vienna to life, particularly the fascinating Adele Bloch-Bauer and her position as a muse to Klimt and patron of the arts. Of equal interest was the pre-war experience of Adele's niece Maria Altmann, who experiences the rise of antisemitism even more sharply than her aunt, particularly following the Anschluss. Both stories felt like a very immersive experience, and I really liked the first 2/3 or so of the book. The characters, settings, and artwork just leapt off the page. What took away from story's fascination and power was Maria's story in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Of course the whole legal battle and issue of ownership is probably an unavoidable part of this tale, but compared to the early parts it felt rushed and almost post-scripted, seeming to take away from the historic part of the novel as well the importance of that subject. Plus, the legal element is covered elsewhere in nonfiction and film. This probably would have garnered 4 stars from me if it maintained the level of engagement and immersion it did for a majority - because of that, I still highly recommend it to all historical fiction readers and art lovers.

The fine print: received ARC from NetGalley.