Forgery

Sabina Murray first came to the attention of the literary world when she won the PEN/Faulkner award in 2003 for her collection of stories about World War II, The Caprices. Her next novel, the modern Gothic A Carnivore's Inquiry, was called "dazzling . . . lovely, literate, and deeply unnerving" by The New York Times Book Review. In her new book, Forgery, Murray introduces us to a world of deception, political intrigue, and desire. In the summer of 1963, American Rupert Brigg travels to Greece to collect classical pieces for his Uncle William's art collection. Rupert's first discovery, however, is that Athens is a shadowy place that hides a tangle of political subterfuge, duplicitous women, and fork-tongued diplomacy; it's a city of replicas and composites that, like a hall of mirrors, calls to question what is real and what is false. As Rupert continues to hunt for his treasure, he finds himself on the secluded island of Aspros, one of a circle of artists and aristocrats, each with his own secrets. Rupert finds the pieces of art that he's searching for, but can he distance himself from the eccentric childhood that hides his true identity? Can he escape the tragedy that ended his brief marriage? As beautiful as Rupert's discoveries are, beneath the surface lurk rumors of insurrection, fabrication, and even murder. Seductive, compelling, and sly, Forgery is a sophisticated book about the value and meaning of art, love, and the corrosive power of grief.