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Caveat Emptor: The Secret Life of an American Art Forger
by Ken Perenyi

Published: 2012-08-15
Hardcover : 368 pages
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It is said that the greatest art forger in the world is the one who has never been caught—the astonishing story of America’s most accomplished art forger.

Ten years ago, an FBI investigation in conjunction with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of New York was about ...

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Introduction

It is said that the greatest art forger in the world is the one who has never been caught—the astonishing story of America’s most accomplished art forger.

Ten years ago, an FBI investigation in conjunction with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of New York 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 book, Caveat Emptor, is Ken Perenyi’s confession. It is the story, in detail, of how he pulled it all off.

Glamorous stories of art-world scandal have always captured the public imagination. However, not since Clifford Irving’s 1969 bestselling Fake has there been a story at all like this one. Caveat Emptor is unique in that it is the first and only book by and about America’s first and only great art forger. And 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.

In the tradition of Frank Abagnale’s Catch Me If You Can, and certain to be a bombshell for the major international auction houses and galleries, here is the story of America’s greatest art forger.

32 pages of color illustrations and photographs

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Discussion Questions

Suggested by Members

Do you think Ken P. deserved to be arrested for his forgeries?
Do you think Ken P.
Do you think Ken P.'s skills and abilities could have been used
by wendywedde (see profile) 01/24/14

Notes From the Author to the Bookclub

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Book Club Recommendations

Discussion Questions are not available
by wendywedde (see profile) 01/24/14
There do not appear to be any published discussion questions on this book, so you would need to wing it, which our book club did and it worked out just fine.

Member Reviews

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  "Caveat Emptor: The Secret Life of An American Forger "by Wendy W. (see profile) 01/24/14

This true story of Ken Perenyi and how he pulled off being able to imitate famous artists' works was extremely intriguing. I learned a ton of information about art and I think Ken's talents and skills... (read more)

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