The Forgery of Venus

By: Michael Gruber

Narrated by: Eric Conger

Length: 10 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

Chaz Wilmot makes his living cranking out old-master parodies for ads and magazine covers. When he's offered a job restoring a Venetian palace fresco, he is at first, skeptical - he immediately sees it is more a forgery than a restoration. But he is soon seduced by the challenge and throws himself into the work, doing the job brilliantly.

This feat attracts the attention of Werner Krebs, a shady art dealer who becomes Wilmot's friend and patron. Wilmot is suddenly working with a fervor he hasn't felt in years, but without warning, he finds himself reliving moments from his past - not as memories but as if they are happening all over again. Soon, he believes he can travel back to the 17th century where he lived as the Spanish artist Diego Rodriguez de Silva Velazquez. Wilmot begins to fantasize that as Velazquez, he has created a masterpiece and when the painting actually turns up, he doesn't know if he painted it or if he imagined the whole thing.

Little by little, Wilmot enters a secret world of gangsters, greed, and murder, with his mystery patron at the center of it all, either as the mastermind behind a plot to forge a painting worth millions, or as the man who will save Wilmot from obscurity and madness. Miraculously inventive, this book cements Gruber's reputation as one of the most imaginative and gifted writers of our time.

©2008 Michael Gruber (P)2008 HarperCollins Publishers

recommended for artists!

I'm an artist in the NY area and I loved this book, particularly the spot-on descriptions of the Manhattan art scene. If you're a fan of timetravel stories and have even a passing interest in art, this book is for you. Great characters, well-written, kept me wondering but had a satisfying conclusion, and considering (literally) today's headlines about re-authenticating Velazquwz's portraits of young King Philip at Prada and The Met, quite timely.

Amazing!

This book...its story...the narrator...definitely one of my favorite audiobooks I've ever listened to! A must listen for any art lover!

More fun with Gruber

After loving "the Book of Air and Shaddows" I rushed to order "The Forgery of Venus" and boy am I glad I did!! The story is a delightful roller coaster of twists and turns with an engaging protagonist (or possible two - does he have a 17th century doppleganger?) and an encyclopedic view of the Great Masters of painting, especially Velasquez. Add halucenogenic drugs, a few ex-wives, a (possibly) evil mastermind, and a lot of fascinating detail abour food, wine, and art forgery, and there you go!! What a ride!!

I liked this narrator a lot. Better than the much more obtrusive voice of the narrator of "Air and Shaddows". He had the job of voicing two people speaking, and he did it clearly but without resorting to accents, manerisms or other bothersome tricks. In voicing the main character, Chaz Wilmet, he was just excellent, with the undertones of frustration, agitation, craziness and philospphical acceptance all perfectly appropriate but so understated i felt like it was my own voice comprehending the words in my head.

Hey Audiblre - Why are two of this author's books available only in abridgement????????????

art sci fi psychological thriller

a real treat for artists, and a spellbinding thriller. Thought this was the best Michael Gruber that is available on audible. After reading this, I downloaded the rest of his work, but still think this is the best. the details about art and conservation are spot on with only one exception that any art restorer would know is bogus. However, the story is one to keep you guessing and riveted. loved it.

One of the best books I’ve read!

I’ve been a professional artist 4 decades and also trained as a restorer in Italy (the flip side of forgery).The author weaves the darker side of the art business with a wealth of art history brilliantly. It will keep you on the edge of seat. Very authentic and magical.

Wonderful

Michael Gruber never disappoints as he weaves his richly detailed tales of wide ranging subject matters, from Shakespeare to Velasquez. I wanted to listen to this all in one go it was so engaging. The characters are rich, involved, knowledgeable with a sly sense of humor in many places. You can see the old cities, appreciate the beauty of the art.
Eric Conger is exemplary, expressive, and with a mastery of the names and places and language little known to many listeners.
One of my best purchases from Audible!

Michael Gruber - Always remarkable!

Having stumbled into "The Good Son" by the same author, I purchased this book. Both books deeply engaged me. Left me wondering....Thought provoking, he describes a familiar world that is transformed into a different reality by various means we may never understand. Is it a mind altering drug or prolonged capture that has the power to transform the characters? Or is it the evanescence of our reality? Are we the captors or the captive? Everything flashes in the light of his prose.

Deliciously intricate

Gruber never disappoints me with his intelligent and complex characters nor the intricacies of plotting. I'm a new fan of Valasquez. Another favorite!