Arts and Wonders

by Gregory Norminton

ARTS AND WONDERS follows Tommaso Grilli, dwarf and talented art forger, from his unhappy beginnings in Renaissance Florence, via a life of crime in Prague, to the minor German Dukedom of Felsengrunde. There, as curator and (more often than not) 'creator' of a fantastical Library of Arts, he makes himself indispensable to the impoverished duke -- with whom his own fortunes will be murderously linked.

Genres: Fiction

490 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Gregory Norminton is a writer and environmentalist born in Berkshire in 1976. Educated at Wellington College, he read English at Regent's Park College, Oxford and studied acting at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.He presently lives in Edinburgh.

Reviews

[Marko · Rating 3 out of 5]

Zanimljiva knjiga, samo sto se pitam da li je piscu receno da malo prosiri pricu ili on sam nema dobar osecaj za tempo.

[Sybele · Rating 3 out of 5]

Uh I don't want to be too harsh. I think that book is very interesting just it wasn't the right time. It couldn't keep my attention longer than 20 minutes a day and after I came back to it the following day I could see I lost the track on the plot. I give 3 stars instead 2 considering that maybe it was me.

[Charlotte · Rating 3 out of 5]

Strange book. Interesting protagonist and writing, but the plot dragged on a bunch of occasions, and it read more like an unfocused biography than a novel.

[v · Rating 4 out of 5]

first book of 2021 :)

[Mirren Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arts and Wonders is an unusual book - but Gregory Norminton is most definitely not your average author, so that did not come as a surprise. Unusual because its protagonist is a strange one - Tommaso Grillo, an Italian dwarf, who makes a living being an art forger. The story is panoramic, (it's a BIG read - all of 489 pages)with Tommaso's life being lived in a number of different countries, starting in Renaissance Florence, and after travails in Prague and Germany, ending in Italy once more.

Tommaso is not a particularly nice character, but he is an interesting person, and so are most of the other characters that Norminton paints so skillfully. His writing style is rich, lyrical, in turns very funny and sad. There are many twists and turns to the story, and the reader is kept wondering if Tommaso can extricate himself once again from the trouble he seems to continually find himself in. A thoroughly enjoyable read, but it does take some immersion. (Elaine)

[Sorcha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story follows Tommaso Grilli, dwarf and talented art forger, from his unhappy beginnings in Renaissance Florence to the German Dukedom of Felsengrunde. There as curator and "creator" of a fantastical Library of Arts, he makes himself indispensable to the impoverished duke.....