The Man Who Stole the Gods

A True Story of War, Obsession, and the World's Biggest Art Heist

De: Matthew Campbell

Brought to you by Penguin.

From Cambodian temples to Christie’s auction house, this is an unbelievable tale of greed, looted treasures and stolen history in the world’s biggest art heist.

In the shattered aftermath of Cambodia’s civil war, temples that had stood for centuries were found ransacked, sacred sculptures hacked from pedestals, towering statues of Hindu gods and priceless relics of the Khmer Empire vanished. At the center of this vast plunder, British expat Douglas Latchford, whose decades-long obsession fueled one of the most audacious cultural thefts of modern times. From the Killing Fields to the marble galleries of New York and London and the private collections of the rich and famous, The Man Who Stole the Gods unravels a breathtaking story of power, greed and corruption, and questions what you take from a nation when you steal its past.

Drawing on years of investigation and exclusive access to the stories’ key players – from temple looters and traffickers to the investigators and archaeologists fighting to bring the gods home – award-winning writer Matthew Campbell reveals how the treasures of one of the world’s greatest civilizations were stolen, sold, and finally found.

From the author of Dead in the Water, called 'a masterpiece' by the New York Times


'An adventure to rival David Grann’s Lost City of Z, and a riveting exposé of the plunder that still fills the world’s top art museums' Zeke Faux, author or Number Go Up

'Immaculately researched and beautifully written, a gripping real-life exposé of the ugly deals that underpin the trade in beautiful objects' Oliver Bullough, author of Moneyland

© Matthew Campbell 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026

Reseñas de la Crítica

An adventure to rival David Grann’s Lost City of Z, and a riveting exposé of the plunder that still fills the world’s top art museums (Zeke Faux)

Immaculately researched and beautifully written, The Man Who Stole the Gods is a gripping real-life exposé of the ugly deals that underpin the trade in beautiful objects (Oliver Bullough)

An epic tale of art, war, and crime, The Man Who Stole the Gods unspools a sprawling conspiracy of tomb raiders, art dealers, and museum curators, with one elusive expatriate at the heart of it all. Campbell brings the story to life with brisk pacing, an instinct for drama, and a firm grasp of the moral and historical stakes (Stuart A. Reid)

The Man Who Stole the Gods transcends reportage, marrying investigative rigour to the emotional force of great fiction. Propulsive and devastating, it traces a story of greed and violence that opens, finally, onto redemption, rendered with exceptional clarity and insight (Katie Engelhart)

Masterfully reported and beautifully told, The Man Who Stole the Gods is a piercing indictment of our unequal world. It reads like a thriller, starring elite curators, business moguls, despots and freedom fighters and one of the most fascinating anti-heroes in modern memory (Sheelah Kolhatkar)

After reading the book, you may never again look at ancient artworks in quite the same way. Thought-provoking true crime on a grand scale.

Paced like a thriller, this sweeping, cinematic account weaves together true crime and Asian history to shine a light on a little-explored art world scandal. It’s a breathtaking ride.