Elizabeth Kostova

Psychiatrist Andrew Marlow, devoted to his profession and the painting hobby he loves, has a solitary but ordered life. When renowned painter Robert Oliver attacks a canvas in the National Gallery of Art and becomes his patient, Marlow finds that order destroyed. Desperate to understand the secret that torments the genius, he embarks on a journey that leads him into the lives of the women closest to Oliver and a tragedy at the heart of French Impressionism. Kostova's masterful new novel travels from American cities to the coast of Normandy, from the late 19th century to the late 20th, from young love to last love. The Swan Theives is a story of obsession, history's losses, and the power of art to preserve human hope.

A Novel

The Swan Thieves

The swan thieves

Draculelle

“Do you think artists are really supposed to be all right?" He smiled

Gillian Rose

As someone who enjoyed Kostova's first novel, The Historian, I really thought I'd like this one. Especially since it had to do with art. Unfortunately, I found the story very boring and confusing. It was muddled by a lead character who I despised because he was extremely unprofessional and constantly was thinking that attractive women couldn't possibly like him. The story just seemed to be about women suffering at the hands of men. Very disappointing.

Daniel Cleveland

Kostova still enthralls me. Her ability to cut right to the quick is uncanny.

Kwan Ann Tan

Very well written, and certainly very interesting, although I felt that the ending was too rushed, and some parts of the story were too long-winded and didn't contribute overall towards the main storyline. 

I dislike Dr Marlow very much, because I feel that he is just a pompous, fake old man, who does not seem to have the right touch to unravel this enthralling story, because he's far too out of touch with the whole thing- I just don't think he was the right storyteller for this book. Perhaps it would have been better told from the chaotic and swirling mind of Robert Oliver himself so we could truly see his passion and the story's actual meaning? 

But all in all, a wonderful story, and definitely one I would recommend.

Amy Soukup

I have no idea how Elizabeth Kostova does it but she YET AGAIN made me feel this book on such a deep level. I, who have zero artistic talent whatsoever, read this book and believed that I could be an artist. As I read of these artists painting and the relationship they had with their art I felt it so much that I bought some paint and canvass. I still have zero talent and cannot paint at all but for a little while I truly believed I would be able too because of how Elizabeth Kostova draws you in and connects with you.

Rose King

After reading the Historian by Kostova I expected a lengthy story, one that might take me a while to actually become interested in, but this one had me hooked quite a bit sooner then what I expected. The relationship between the psychiatrist and the artist(Oliver) and the understanding of why he did what he did (not going to give away any spoilers..) is intriguing but what really drew me in was the history/suspense and the combination of psychology and art which is a topic I hadn't read about previously.

Matilda☕

Maria Morales 

Psychiatrist Andrew Marlow, devoted to his profession and the painting hobby he loves, has a solitary but ordered life. When renowned painter Robert Oliver attacks a canvas in the National Gallery of Art and becomes his patient, Marlow finds that order destroyed. Desperate to understand the secret that torments the genius, he embarks on a journey that leads him into the lives of the women closest to Oliver and a tragedy at the heart of French Impressionism. Kostova's masterful new novel travels from American cities to the coast of Normandy, from the late 19th century to the late 20th, from young love to last love. THE SWAN THIEVES is a story of obsession, history's losses, and the power of art to preserve human hope.

Greta Keller

Nora 

Peter Read

Rosie Yakob 

Psychiatrist Andrew Marlowe has a perfectly ordered life - solitary, perhaps, but full of devotion to his profession and the painting hobby he loves. This order is destroyed when renowned painter Robert Oliver attacks a canvas in the National Gallery of Art and becomes his patient. Desperate to understand the secret that torments this genius, Marlowe embarks on a journey that leads him into the lives of the women closest to Oliver and a tragedy at the heart of French Impressionism. Kostova's masterful new novel travels from American cities to the coast of Normandy; from the late nineteenth century to the late twentieth, from young love to last love. The Swan Thieves is a story of obsession, history's losses, and the power of art to preserve hope.

The Swan Thieves A Novel

Reviews

Highlights