Sunday, April 26, 2009

Vanished Smile


Vanished Smile: The Mysterious Theft of Mona Lisa
by R A Scotti
Adult non-fiction
Available now in hardcover

In August of 1911, the Mona Lisa disappeared from the Louvre without a trace. The prime suspects (Pablo Picasso and his gang of miscreant friends) were arrested and released when their guilt could not be proven. The trail went cold, and Da Vinci's most famous work of art was presumed lost forever. Two years later, it turned up in a very unexpected place--but who was behind the theft? Why was it stolen? And who was Mona Lisa, anyway? R A Scotti presents the facts in a clear, straightforward history of this famous portrait. She includes several possible fictions about who masterminded the theft, and it is for the reader to decide which is the most plausible. This is a quick, interesting read that combines historical fact with adventurous speculation. Highly recommended for teens and young adults.

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