“The Elgin Affair: The True Story of the Greatest Theft in History”
A book group especially for art enthusiasts like you!
August 15, 2024 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm At the Museum and virtually on Zoom
Welcome to Museum Reads, the Newport Art Museum’s Art-Themed book group for adults! Are you looking to learn more about art and artists, or enjoy digging into some of the issues present in our current exhibitions? Then this friendly discussion group is for you. We meet monthly on the third Thursday at 12 noon, in person and virtually. Join us virtually from the office for an invigorating lunch break, or enjoy an hour of inspiration during a wee one’s nap time, or find us in the gallery for in-person conversation.
The Elgin Affair: The True Story of the Greatest Theft in History by Theodore Vrettos
Every year, millions of people visit London’s British Museum to admire the magnificent Greek sculptures that adorned the Parthenon in Athens for more than two thousand years. This compelling and controversial story of the Elgin Marbles (named for Thomas Bruce, seventh earl of Elgin, who stripped the Parthenon of these exquisite works in what has been called “the greatest art theft in history”) re-creates in full and colorful detail a steamy tale of obsession, intrigue, adultery, and ruin. Drawing on original source material – letters, diaries, official government reports and memoranda, together with the full divorce proceedings of a scandalous adultery trial in Edinburgh – and on his earlier work on the subject, Vrettos brings brilliantly to life these fascinating events of history. Rounding out the story of the marbles, the author concludes with the latest battles between the Greek and English governments over the rightful ownership of these priceless treasures.
Museum Reads is free for Members, and $5 for yet-to-be Members.
Be sure to register online to receive email updates and Zoom links.
For last minute registrations, please call the front desk for the Zoom link at 401-848-8200.
About the Author
This program is made possible by your support of the Annual Fund.
To receive a discounted price, you have three options:
If you're not a member:
Purchase a membership along with a class or event registration, and the discount will be applied in your cart.
If you are a member, and you purchased your membership on this website:
log into your account and the discount will be applied in your cart. You can log in before your purchase, or during the checkout process.
If you are a member, and you did not purchase your membership on this website:
Log in with the email address we have on file for you. If you haven't logged into this website before, you'll need to reset your password first.
If you are a member, and you're having an issue logging in:
Purchase a registration for a class or event, and then call or email the museum, and we will be happy to apply the discount to your purchase.