A new look at a legendary art heist in master thieves by. Why would someone steal these paintings, only to leave them hidden for twentyfive years. Stephen kurkjian, author of master thieves, says hed like to see boston bring the same commitment and resolve it showed after the 20 boston marathon attacks to recovering the art stolen. A new look at a legendary art heist in master thieves by stephen kurkjian. Master thieves, his book on the theft, was published by publicaffairs last year and received critical praise from the new york times, the boston globe, and the.
Masterthieves book discussion with stephen kurkjian. Additionally, he contributed to the boston globe spotlight teams coverage of the clergy abuse scandal within the roman catholic archdiocese of boston that was awarded the pulitzer prize for public service in 2003. Thus begins stephen kurkjians master thieves, a tale of one of the most brazen and expensive art thefts in history, still unsolved. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading master thieves. Kurkjian s law degree also allows him access to court documents that a regular author wouldnt be able to get to.
The boston gangsters who pulled off the worlds greatest art. In a secret meeting in 1981, a lowlevel boston thief gave career gangster ralph rossetti the tip of a lifetime. More than just a summation of all thats publicly known about the case from the thieves false mustaches to the f. Master thieves ebook by stephen kurkjian rakuten kobo. Kurkjian will discuss his book master thieves, a retelling of the isabella stewart gardener museum art theft based on his investigative reporting as a boston globe journalist. Stephen kurkjian, pulitzer prizewinning journalist and author of master thieves. Hes talking about the 1990 theft of pieces of art from bostons isabella stewart gardner museum, a stillunsolved crime thats at the heart of his newest book, master thieves. Thus begins stephen kurkjian s master thieves, a tale of one of the most brazen and expensive art thefts in history, still unsolved. Kurkjian upton bell collection at umass lowell libraries. Master thieves and the art of the con the new york times.
Steve kurkjian will be speaking about his book at the cotuit public. Author stephen kurkjian, who won three pulitzer prizes as a globe investigative reporter, has pulled together a cast of characters that would make martin scorsese swoon in admiration. Kurkjian writes about it in his book, master thieves. Harvard book store welcomes acclaimed investigative reporter stephen kurkjian for a discussion of his book master thieves. Master thieves is a fastpaced book that will appeal to all those who enjoy art, mysteries and true crime.
Jun 28, 2015 more than just a summation of all thats publicly known about the case from the thieves false mustaches to the f. The boston gangsters who pulled off the worlds greatest art heist by stephen kurkjian isbn. Pulitzer prizewinning journalist and author of master thieves. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good crime story. The boston gangsters who pulled off the worlds greatest art heist kindle edition by kurkjian, stephen. Norfolk senior center masterthieves book discussion. Security was lax at the museum, making it possible for two men, dressed in police. In master thieves kurkjian reveals how the two criminal gangs battling for control of the boston underworld knew of the museums poor.
The 1990 theft of artworks from the isabella stewart gardner museum was the largest art theft in history, carried the worlds largest. If youre one of those readers who demand giftwrapped endings to books, you might be frustrated by master thieves. Kurkjian is well suited as the author of this book he wrote stories about the heist for the boston globe for many years, so he has an emotional connection as well as knowledge and research ties to the case. In master thieves, we dont actually know who planned and carried off the heist that robbed the isabella gardner museum of several precious works of art.
Investigative journalist stephen kurkjian has written the definitive, revealing history of the famed isabella stewart gardner museum heist that took place 25 years ago. Author and former boston globe spotlight reporter stephen kurkjian will talk about his new book, master thieves, which covers the biggest theft in art history. Master thieves by stephen kurkjian washington post. His book on the theft of pieces of artwork from the isabella stewart, master thieves. This book has the grit and intelligence of a lifelong gangster and the high tension of a midnight caper. Stephen kurkjian has some theories formed from years of investigation as a reporter and interviews with experts on art, art theft, and bostonian crime. Kurkjian s reporting is already responsible for some of the biggest breaks in this story, including a meticulous reconstruction of what happened at the museum museum that fateful night. And why, more than 20 years later, did the fbi issue a press conference stating that they knew who had pulled off the heist and what had happened to the artwork, but provided no identities and scant details. Kurkjian explores all the possibilities and comes up with a plausible new theory of his own. Master thieves minuteman library network overdrive. The boston gangsters who pulled off the worlds greatest art heist kurkjian, stephen on. Kurkjian, an investigative reporter and threetime pulitzer prize winner, pens the book like a mystery novel, examining the scenarios that the fbi has considered over the years. The author, being from boston and working for the boston globe helped to add a personal dimension to master thieves. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets.
Boston globe reporter turned author stephen kurkjian. Stephen kurkjian, one of the top investigative reporters in the country, has been working this case for over nearly twenty years. Mar 10, 2015 now master thieves will reveal the identities of those he believes plotted the heist, the motive for the crime, and the details that the fbi has refused to discuss. As a kid, royce had visited the isabella stewart gardner museum and made a habit of sneaking in at night to find a good place to sleep. More than just a summation of all thats publicly known about the casefrom the thieves false mustaches to the f. The book does not solve the mystery of one of the worlds biggest. Pittsfield awardwinning journalist stephen kurkjian will discuss and sign copies of his new book master thieves. The boston gangsters who pulled off the worlds greatest art heist takes a look at the investigations, theories, blunders, and complex web of the boston mafia that all contributed to the paintings being stolen. As stephen kurkjian shows in master thieves, the museums inadequacies were.
Master thieves master thieves audiobook, by stephen kurkjian. The master thieves behind bostons greatest cold case. The boston gangsters who pulled off the worlds greatest art heist by stephen kurkjian. Meet master thieves author author and former boston globe spotlight reporter and editor stephen kurkjian to speak about his book master thieves at dover public library may 23rd at 6. In a secret meeting in 1981, a master thief named louis royce gave career gangster ralph rossetti the tip of a lifetime. Kurkjians 2005 article about the theft of pieces of artwork from the isabella stewart gardner museum is regarded as the most complete account of the stillunsolved crime. Pulitzer prizewinning boston globe investigative reporter kurkjian worked on the story when it first broke, and in his fastpaced, though sometimes repetitious, debut book, he recounts the heist, the official investigation and his own probing into the case. The boston gangsters who pulled off the worlds greatest art heist, stephen kurkjian, also points the way to possibly. Stephen kurkjian developed the characters and lays the groundwork in telling this story. In master thieves, he sheds new light on some of the gardners most abiding mysteries.
Kurkjian s law degree also allows him access to court documents that a. As for the revelation about the identities of these master thieves, kurkjian s. Master thieves tells of the story and investigation of a real life art theft mystery. Norfolk senior center masterthieves book discussion with. Mar 10, 2015 master thieves author stephen kurkjian talks about the isabella stewart gardner theft the largest art heist in world history. He received the pulitzer prize for local investigative specialized reporting in 1972 and 1980. Gibsons bookstore is thrilled to host the pulitzer prizewinning investigative reporter and author of master thieves. Stephen kurkjian to discuss book on boston art theft at. Master thieves by stephen kurkjian overdrive rakuten. The boston gangsters who pulled off the worlds greatest art heist. This article was originally published in the march 2015 issue of bookpage. The boston gangsters who pulled off the worlds greatest art heist audiobook written by stephen kurkjian.
Filmed on october 11, 2017 at the norfolk senior center. In master thieves, master reporter steve kurkjian tackles one of the worlds great unsolved mysteriesthe 1990 gardner museum art heist in bostonand leaves the reader feeling like hes cracked the case. Pulitzer prizewinning boston globe investigative reporter kurkjian worked on the story when it first broke, and in his fastpaced, though sometimes repetitious, debut book, he recounts the heist, the official investigation. Master thieves, his book on the theft, was published by publicaffairs last year and received critical praise from the new york times, the boston globe and the washington post. For this book, he interviewed lowlevel criminals long suspected of the crime and he reached out to mob bosses. Mar, 2015 stephen kurkjian, one of the top investigative reporters in the country, has been working this case for over nearly twenty years. The boston gangsters who pulled off the worlds greatest art heist, critically acclaimed as the most complete account of the 1990 theft from the isabella stewart gardner museum in boston. Mar 12, 2015 kurkjian writes about it in his new book. In the book master thieves, stephen kurkjian describes one of the most famous robberies in american history. There are so many crimeworld figures with their fingers in this story that the book is like a goodfellasthe departed double feature. Master thieves goodreads share book recommendations.
Yet another booklength examination of the gardner museum heist, this one concentrating on the men of bostons underworld who may have had a hand in the. As a kid, royce had visited the isabella stewart gardner museum and made a habit of sneaking in at night to find a good place. Master thieves and millions of other books are available for instant access. The boston gangsters who pulled off the worlds greatest art heist on saturday, november 7, at 10. Kurkjians 2005 article of the theft of pieces of artwork from the isabella stewart gardner museum is regarded as the most complete account of the stillunsolved crime. Mar, 2015 a new look at a legendary art heist in master thieves by stephen kurkjian. Stephen kurkjian to discuss book on boston art theft at the.
Taking you on a journey deep into the gangs of boston, kurkjian emerges with the most complete and compelling version of this story ever told. Now master thieves will reveal the identities of those he believes plotted the heist, the motive for the crime, and the details that the fbi has refused to discuss. Its a spectacular mysteryboth because of the value of the pieces and the daring of the bad guys, says stephen kurkjian, author of the new book master thieves. Now 25 years after the theft, stephen kurkjian who was the principal reporter on the case for the boston globe for years, has written a gripping account of the stillunsolved heist of a quarter century ago. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Master thieves stephen kurkjian 9781610394239 netgalley. Aug 26, 2015 its a wellknown crime story in boston. Jan 30, 2020 now master thieves will reveal the identities of those he believes plotted the heist, the motive for the crime, and the details that the fbi has refused to discuss. Why are works still missing from the isabella stewart gardner museum. In the three years since publication steve has spoken about the book and the theft at an estimated 200 sites including. Book overview the definitive story of the greatest art theft in history. Master thieves is a treasure hunt the boston globe. These mysteries are the story of kurkjian s revealing book.
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