The Modigliani Scandal
Three people learn of an undiscovered Modigliani: an ambitious young art historian in Paris, a distinguished London dealer and a gallery owner with a financial crisis and a discontented wife. No holds are barred in the fight for possession. Meanwhile an angry young painter plotting revenge executes a brilliant forgery. And an idealistic actress becomes involved in a Robin Hood-style enterprise. The lives of masterpiece hunters, forgers and thieves inexorably collide.
Ken's View
I was almost good when I wrote
The Modigliani Scandal
and
Paper Money. They were the last two novels before I found success with
Eye of the Needle, and were written under the name 'Zachary Stone'. By this time my storytelling skills had improved, and these books have more depth than my earlier efforts. They are too short, however, the characters have no past and the action often moves too quickly for the reader to enjoy.
For hard-core fans, I have allowed these two to be republished in most countries, but included a preface for each emphasising that they were early works. I was afraid I might get a lot of mail from disappointed readers, but in the event I didn't get any. People seem to enjoy them, so they can't be too bad.
Audio and text excerpts
Published as ...
The Modigliani Scandal by 'Zachary Stone'; Collins, London 1976. Published in the USA under the name Ken Follett. Available in print, CD and audiobook formats.
Der Modigliani Skandal in German by Lübbe
Lo Scandalo Modigliani in Italian by Mondadori
