THIEVES

THIEVES

By Andy Weddington

Sunday, 23 July 2023

It is opportunity that makes the thief. - Seneca the Younger

A few weeks ago, though on preplanned mission, we had time to wander into South Main Book Company - a quaint bookstore downtown Salisbury, NC - not on our itinerary.

I bypassed the welcoming eye candy New Fiction display (fiction does not interest me much) and made for the non-fiction section middle right of the shop. 

Big spectrum. 

Six books later retreat to temporary quarters. But no time to read. 

Couple days later and home (from sketching in the Salisbury National Cemetery and visiting family in nearby city cemetery) and after finishing Ernie Pyle's tome 'Brave Men' chronically frontlines combat during World War II something less intense in order. 

I opted for first pick at South Main Book Company 'The Art Thief - A True Story of Love, Crime, and a Dangerous Obsession.' 

Michael Finkel wrote a riveting account of an obsessed young art thief, and his lesser addicted accomplice, frolicking about Europe.

Brazen. 

They stole trinkets to large paintings and massive rugs. 

The heists - sometimes impromptu and always carried out during museum hours and for the sake of stealing and personal enjoyment of the art - went on for years.

Guards saw but they did not. 

I refrain from a lengthy report because such would spoil the wonderful book. 

After finishing I did something not usual and sent the author a note; not expecting reply. 

A few days went by, well into another book, and arrived reply from Mr. Finkel.

Short and gracious note - thanks for reading and, as any good author would, suggested another (of his) titles.

Yesterday morning at a nearby Barnes & Nobel, my wife found a copy. 

Fortuitous. Karma. Whatever.  

And yesterday afternoon 'The Stranger in the Woods - The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit' finished. 

Devoured - five hours included a few short breaks.

Over dinner I mentioned to my wife the irony of a handful of hours reading someone else's thousands of hours (had to be) of work - research, travel, interviews, thinking, writing, editing, etc. Whatever the price a bargain.  

"Extraordinary Story" perfect title words.

Incredible storytelling.

Masterful. 

The story covers about the same time frame as the art thief - late 1980s/early1990s to present.

The hermit setting this side of the Atlantic - Maine. 

By definition hermit does not include accomplice. 

He, too, stole - not to enjoy but to survive. 

That I hold dear childhood memories of Maine and that a brother U. S. Marine character was introduced at the onset had my attention.

Furthermore, that I went through extreme cold weather training in Norway forty some years ago also figured into my wondering how a hermit could survive so many Maine winters. [Being cold with no possibility of being warm is not particularly enjoyable.]

To reveal how many years a hermit in this short commentary not fair.

Let's leave it at career hermit and plans as lifer unexpectedly interrupted.

Brazen again comes to mind but in different context.

So do words courage, clever, and tough(mental and physical) come to mind. 

Some not so positive words also come to mind but those are best left to the reader to conclude. 

Michael Finkel is a thorough researcher. 

He does homework - sometimes living the life of those he's writing about.

How better to understand?

Two of the best books I've read in a long while. 

True.

Incredible stories captured by a writer expert at hooking the reader with first sentences and sinking the hook deeper with no chance of escape. [Now I understand how trout I hook up feel.]

Absolutely read (and pay for the books even if opportunity to not) and recommend in order of 'The Art Thief' first though published after the hermit.

Happy reading!