An Object of Beauty: A Novel - Hardcover

Steve Martin is a legendary writer, actor, and performer. His film credits include Father of the Bride, Parenthood, The Spanish Prisoner, and Bringing Down the House, as well as Roxanne, L.A. Story, and Bowfinger, for which he also wrote the screenplays. He's won Emmys for his television writing and two Grammys for comedy albums. In addition to a play, Picasso at the Lapin Agile, he has written a bestselling collection of comic pieces, Pure Drivel, and a bestselling novella, Shopgirl, which was made into a movie. His work appears frequently in The New Yorker and The New York Times.

This spare, focused book takes us back to the late 1990s, when art was a commodity for the very wealthy and a coin of the realm for admission to the upper class. It's a character study, a light mystery, and an entertaining look at a world that few people see up close. Campbell Scott is an inspired choice as narrator. His measured, understated tone captures the essence of the book, and he only slightly changes his for voice its characters. His leisurely pace draws our attention to the plot details and illuminates the author's asides about the art world. What's even more impressive, though, is that Scott actually sounds like Steve Martin. It's uncanny, and it works beautifully. R.I.G. © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine