Uncovering the enormously lucrative, high-risk world of art theft, this intriguing study goes behind the scenes and explores the sleight-of-hand criminals that steal art and antiquities and the strategies investigators employ to recoup the works. The discussion considers the psychology behind the thieves, the motley crew of characters on both sides of the law, and the famous cases that made headlines. An important special gallery section—with rare images from the Art Loss Register—offers a glimpse into the magnitude of what is lost and how these crimes contribute to cultural extinction. This examination also gives special attention to art looting in relation to war and oppression, reveals how the United Nations can aid in recovery, and debates the legality of such cases as the Elgin Marble pieces and current art-raids in Afghanistan and Iraq.
