Caveat Emptor: The Secret Life of an American Art Forger

De: Ken Perenyi

Narrado por: Dan Butler

The true story of America's greatest art forger!

Ten years ago, an FBI investigation was about to expose a scandal in the art world that would have been front-page news in New York and London. After a trail of fake paintings of astonishing quality led federal agents to art dealers, renowned experts, and the major auction houses, the investigation inexplicably ended, despite an abundance of evidence collected. The case was closed and the FBI file was marked “exempt from public disclosure”.

Now that the statute of limitations on these crimes has expired and the case appears hermetically sealed shut by the FBI, this audiobook, Caveat Emptor, is that artist, Ken Perenyi’s, confession. It is the story, in detail, of how he pulled it all off. Unlike other forgers, Perenyi produced no paper trail, no fake provenance whatsoever; he let the paintings speak for themselves. And that they did, routinely mesmerizing the experts in mere seconds.

©2012 Ken Perenyi; 2012 AudioGO

Great read

Very insightful into the shady side of the art market. Best book I've read since Thomas Hoving's book on fakes.

Fascinating read

We all know the shenanigans going on in the art market...particularly contemporary or "modern" art. This is a story of an, obviously, extremely talented artist who fooled the entire art industry. It reminds me a bit of the Thomas Crowne Affair.

If you are at all interested in art, you'll LOVE this book.

Pop art and an attitude

Well read autobiography that captures the irreverant attitude of the times. The author has a talent for description - using just enough (but not too much) to set the scenes. So often truth is stranger than fiction and much more interesting - as were the twists and turns in Ken Perenyi's life. He tells everything even bad judgement calls from his youth and young adulthood and ends up sharing a full character study (of himself) for the reader. The insights into the 1960s NYC art scene are very telling of the times and the generation.

Unexpected pleasure

My wife recommended this book and I was skeptical at first. Then I started reading it and it grabbed me from the get go. One of the best reads/listens I’ve had in a long time

Really interesting

I found the story to be really interesting, both as a history on one man's life as a forger and also history of the art of forging, the way painters worked in the past and how the art market works in general. I also learnt about a group of painters I knew little about before.

WOW!!

I was captivated from beginning to end!!! Finished in 2 days. I've already recommended to a few of my friends!!

well done

Interesting and full of great stories. I liked listening and it kept me entertained. I leared a lot

Mildly interesting, massively conceited.

The story is worth a listen if you are bored, but you will have to put up with a very conceited author.

excellent history

a view of art and the art world revealing the commerce and creativity, the reality and the fantasy seldom seen.

Could not put it down!

Would you listen to Caveat Emptor again? Why?

Grabs you from the very beginning and keeps you locked on the story through four decades of intrigue.