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Publisher:
iUniverse, Inc. |
Release
Date: June 2004 |
ISBN:
059531676X |
Awards:
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Format
Reviewed: Trade paperback; hardcover |
Buy
it at Amazon |
Read
an Excerpt |
Genre:
Mystery |
Reviewed:
2004 |
Reviewer:
Janet Elaine Smith |
Reviewer
Notes: Janet Elaine Smith is the author of 12 published
novels and 1 non-fiction book. She is also well-known for the
many magazines (both print and e-zines) for which she writes.
Her latest novel is Dakota Printer, now available. |
Copyright
MyShelf.com |
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The Mozart Forgeries
By Daniel N. Leeson
The
two main characters in Dan Leeson’s book, The Mozart Forgeries,
are known simply as “Librarian” and “Forger.”
This does not detract from the book, which opens with Librarian
going to pick Forger up from the penitentiary on the day of his
release.
The
setting is (primarily) New York City, where Librarian has access
to many important documents, including some Mozart scripts. As the
two men travel to Librarian’s home, Librarian discusses his
“plot” with Forger. They soon begin their arduous task
of duplicating Mozart’s style of writing to create two well-known
missing masterpieces.
This
is the most meticulous research I have ever read. Forger delves
into the project with the utmost enthusiasm—creating not only
the perfect paper that would have been used in the days of Mozart,
but even learns what kind of a feather Mozart would have used and
the perfect copy of the ink. While this part of the book is very
detail-oriented, it does not detract from the overall plan of the
two men, but adds to it.
As
the masterpieces are completed, they are taken to numerous authorities
for authentication. They fool the best of them. Librarian even makes
a trip to Europe to try to “find” the place where the
original manuscripts were most likely to have disappeared.
This
is one of the most brilliant books I have read in years. The plot
itself is wonderful. The details were outrageously captivating.
I would love to see more works from this writer. Dan Leeson is well-known
for his expertise as a Mozart fan, yet his mind must be extremely
creative. I highly recommend this book. One of the best I’ve
seen in years. It will have you scratching your head, wondering
where they will go next, and grinning from ear to ear at the complexity
and sneaky ways they accomplish their goal.
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