The Christmas List
The Thyssen Art Macabre (Hardcover) by David Litchfield
This book had rave reviews in Tatler and it sounds absolutely fascinating. It follows the Thyssen family from great 19th century industrial wealth to notoriety in the 21st century. At the end of his life in 2002 Billionaire Heini Thysssen claimed the largest private art collection in the world, had married five times and purchased an island in the Caribbean, a country estate in Gloucestershire, a town house in London , a duplex in New York, holiday home in Marbella, a private jet and a yacht the size of an ocean liner. And there lies an outrageous life of tax evasion, alcohol and drug abuse, infidelity, promiscuity, theft, and suicide. the family has also battled over the sale of the art collection to Spain for $600,000,000. Litchfield portrays the Thyssen family as a tribe without taste, morals or manners. That said, reading about such persons can be hugely entertaining, and this book often is, rather like watching Celebrity Big Brother at its very worst.’… Fantastic!
$37 http://www.amazon.com/ Publisher: Quartet Books (July 5, 2006)
 |
Previous Issues
Loading ...