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The Accidental Collector
Set in the world of contemporary art, Guy Kennaway's new novel delivers his trademark absurdities and laugh out loud moments.
As the globe's most successful super-dealer, Herman Gertsch spends his charmed life jetting between his galleries in Zurich, London and New York, fawned over by artists, curators, politicians and the uber-rich.
As Herman's empire grows, nothing seems to get in his way, until he makes the calamitous decision to open a gallery in a rural English backwater. Here, Herman encounters John "Brother" Burn, a penniless hippy known as the slipperiest man in south Somerset, and therefore the western hemisphere.
In the riotous comedy of errors that follows, Kennaway pours mistaken identity, Amazonian tribes, Swiss food, DMT, Arab royalty, and million dollar artworks onto a spin painting of a story about art and life that dazzles.
As the globe's most successful super-dealer, Herman Gertsch spends his charmed life jetting between his galleries in Zurich, London and New York, fawned over by artists, curators, politicians and the uber-rich.
As Herman's empire grows, nothing seems to get in his way, until he makes the calamitous decision to open a gallery in a rural English backwater. Here, Herman encounters John "Brother" Burn, a penniless hippy known as the slipperiest man in south Somerset, and therefore the western hemisphere.
In the riotous comedy of errors that follows, Kennaway pours mistaken identity, Amazonian tribes, Swiss food, DMT, Arab royalty, and million dollar artworks onto a spin painting of a story about art and life that dazzles.
- GenresFiction
336 pages, Hardcover
First published May 11, 2021
14 people are currently reading
234 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
July 10, 2025
Burvīga satīra par modernās mākslas seklo dīķi.
Plašāk blogā: https://lalksne.blogspot.com/2025/07/...
Plašāk blogā: https://lalksne.blogspot.com/2025/07/...
January 6, 2022
A send-up of the modern art world, so very well done, with lots of real laugh-out-loud moments. Shades of Wodehouse, with a clever plot that ties up several deceptively loose ends...but also genuine affection for his well-drawn characters.
Skillful plotting is of course difficult to pull off, but so too is dialogue between two people who are completely mistaken about who the other is. The best so far of the new year!
Skillful plotting is of course difficult to pull off, but so too is dialogue between two people who are completely mistaken about who the other is. The best so far of the new year!
January 2, 2024
Since I read a lot of depressing literature, I decided to undertake a little project: to read all of The Bollinger Wodehouse Prize for Comic Fiction Winners. As I don’t really have a sense of humor, I’d like to see if these books will make me laugh. So far I have read two; Flake (which made me smile) and a year ago I read The Trees, which made me laugh out loud. Next up is The Accidental Collector.
The book is a satire on the art world. The Accidental Collector is stuffed with greedy dealers. snobbish artists, humble has beens and hopeful newbies. The comedic premise is the mistaken identity trope.
Herman Gertsch has one dream: to open a mid tier Swiss restaurant. His wife thinks it’s not a good idea and persuades him to help run an art gallery. He manages and through a series of coincidences becomes good at it, until he decides to become a private collector. In order to evade tax laws he collects under a fake name, which gets him into predicaments.
Due to how the story unravels, it’s best to know as little as possible. One can imagine the hijinks which occur in the book. The main thing is that the art world can be quite vicious place, no matter how innocent your goals are.
Did I find the book funny? I thought the beginning was quite strong and just before the joke wears thin, the novel concludes, which is a good thing. I did give a chortle with the ‘interrogate the space’ gag but it’s more of a feel good novel which does an excellent job at managing to wrap things up. As my first read of the year, it was a fun and light one, which was much needed.
The book is a satire on the art world. The Accidental Collector is stuffed with greedy dealers. snobbish artists, humble has beens and hopeful newbies. The comedic premise is the mistaken identity trope.
Herman Gertsch has one dream: to open a mid tier Swiss restaurant. His wife thinks it’s not a good idea and persuades him to help run an art gallery. He manages and through a series of coincidences becomes good at it, until he decides to become a private collector. In order to evade tax laws he collects under a fake name, which gets him into predicaments.
Due to how the story unravels, it’s best to know as little as possible. One can imagine the hijinks which occur in the book. The main thing is that the art world can be quite vicious place, no matter how innocent your goals are.
Did I find the book funny? I thought the beginning was quite strong and just before the joke wears thin, the novel concludes, which is a good thing. I did give a chortle with the ‘interrogate the space’ gag but it’s more of a feel good novel which does an excellent job at managing to wrap things up. As my first read of the year, it was a fun and light one, which was much needed.
July 30, 2021
Funny, but not overwhelmingly so. Does certain amount of fair jokes on the art world, but could be deeper and sharper. Unpredictable but at some point turns from a comedy of errors into some Hollywood movie stuff. Nice to spend a couple of evenings with but hardly memorable.
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December 1, 2021Herman, a millionaire-by-marriage, is embarrassed that all his rich and successful friends don't take him seriously. He, too, is wealthy but only by his wife's inherited fortune. Embarrassed by not having an answer when asked what he does for a living, he asks a friend who owns a modern art gallery for a fake job. Herman's ignorance of art coupled with his intimate knowledge of the vapid rich make him an improbably successful dealer. Oh, and he has a passion for serving traditional Swiss finger foods, which make him a hit at gallery showings, but also leads him into a deep secret life. The labyrinths of conspiracy create a web that his friends, family, and unsuspecting strangers struggle to untangle.
This is a pleasant read, but mostly more amusing than properly comic. The concepts are funnier than the execution, and there are a few laugh-out-loud zingers sprinkled throughout. But the comedy does not appear in anywhere near the density or extremity of the inimitable Wodehouse, the moniker assigned to this book's award. A good book to place over the mantel and tell others how well it "interrogates the room."
This is a pleasant read, but mostly more amusing than properly comic. The concepts are funnier than the execution, and there are a few laugh-out-loud zingers sprinkled throughout. But the comedy does not appear in anywhere near the density or extremity of the inimitable Wodehouse, the moniker assigned to this book's award. A good book to place over the mantel and tell others how well it "interrogates the room."
July 21, 2021
Beautifully crafted and superb fun - a hugely accurate spearing of the pretentiousness and vacuity of the Modern Art 'monde.' There's more than dash of Tom Sharpe and Carl Hiassen here but Kennaway's style is wonderfully unobtrusive. Sideswipes and comic behaviour are the order of the day. A rollicking good read that I got through in just two days. You don't want it to end....
December 8, 2025
I struggled to get hold of a copy of "The Accidental Collector": it's only available second-hand. It's astonishing that such a fun book is already out of print, just four years after publication, and above all after winning the Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize for Comic Fiction. I suppose a satire of the world of fine art dealers is not to everyone's taste. On its cover, it is described as a "Caper" as well, and perhaps that also sounded off-putting to some potential readers. But it's a charming book, not quite as good as the delightful "Bird Brain" by the same author, but still a sunny delight indeed.
The book falls into two halves, revolving around two different characters: Herman, who can afford to drift into being an art dealer because he is the husband of a wealthy heiress; and Brother, an old hippie living in a scabby encampment near Herman and his wife's luxurious mansion. Many people might like Brother best, but I preferred the first half of the book featuring Herman, whom I found hilarious thanks to his obsession with Swiss finger foods.
There are some definite holes in the plot: above all, how did the Inland Revenue not do any digging into the way that Brother comes to acquire Herman's art collection? And it is often mentioned that Brother cannot be evicted from his plot of land, because he owns it. But how did the chronically unemployed Brother manage to buy the land in the first place? Never mind, these are unworthy questions. Instead of quibbling, we should just sit back and smile, or guffaw out loud as preferred.
The book falls into two halves, revolving around two different characters: Herman, who can afford to drift into being an art dealer because he is the husband of a wealthy heiress; and Brother, an old hippie living in a scabby encampment near Herman and his wife's luxurious mansion. Many people might like Brother best, but I preferred the first half of the book featuring Herman, whom I found hilarious thanks to his obsession with Swiss finger foods.
There are some definite holes in the plot: above all, how did the Inland Revenue not do any digging into the way that Brother comes to acquire Herman's art collection? And it is often mentioned that Brother cannot be evicted from his plot of land, because he owns it. But how did the chronically unemployed Brother manage to buy the land in the first place? Never mind, these are unworthy questions. Instead of quibbling, we should just sit back and smile, or guffaw out loud as preferred.
February 15, 2025
Keipers ir īpatnējs kriminālromānu žanra apakšžanrs. Latviski ar keiperiem sastopamies ne parāk bieži. Visa sāls – identitātes viltojumā. Grāmata, kuru lasot var pat smieties, taču, iespējams, ne pārāk skaļi. Pēc tam ir jautājums – par ko īsti smējamies? Lai arī grāmata tiek pozicionēta kā situāciju komēdija un pat apbalvota kā 2021.gada izcilākā britu komiskā grāmata, tā drīzāk ir diezgan nežēlīga satīra par supergbagāto varu pār pamuļķiem. Tiesa – pamuļķiem nav obligāti jābūt nabagiem. Arī starp superbagātajiem tādu ir daudz. Taču pamatvēstījums ir par to, ka liela nauda diktē vērtības un ietekmē identitāti. Vērtības galu galā izrādās ir pseidovērtības un identitāte – vai nu zaudēta vai viltota. Identitātes zaudējums ir otra lielā tēma, ietērpta traģikomiskā vēstījumā. Galvenais tēls (šveicietis) samierinās ar dzimtenes un dzimtās valodas zaudējumu, bet nu nekādi – ar nacionalās virtuves jev Valē uzkodu plates neesamību ikdienā.
Īsti labas žanra literatūras baudījumu var sākt gūt, kad priekšplānā parādās nozagtās identitātes īpašnieks, vietējās hipiju apmetnes vadonis – Krokodilu Dandija britu variants. Protams, kārtīgs iemetējs un visa veida narkotiku baudītājs, kurš liktenīgu sakritību rezultātā klūst par ļoti dārgas gleznu kolekcijas pseidoīpašnieku. Apbrīnojami, kā, stāstot par mākslas pseidopazināju liekulību un aprobežotību, var izveidot ko līdzīgu sazvērestības teorijai.
Grāmatā ir raiti, asprātīgi dialogi, spilgti raksturi, laba valoda, pārsteidzoši sižeta pvērsieni. Bezmaz vai obligāta grāmata šodienas depresīvajā politiskajā un ekonomiskaja ikdienā.
Brīnišķīga ir vāka izvēle izdevumam latviešu valodā – maz zināmas, bet izcilas mākslinieces Māras Vaičunas gleznas reprodukcija ( viņas gleznu izstāde Nacionālajā mākslas muzejā ir gaidāma 2025.gada beigās vai 2026.gada sākumā). Ārkārtīgi atbilstoši tieši šim grāmatas izdevumam ir mākslas zinātnieces Ingrīdas Burānes ievadvārdi par Māras Vaičunas nenovērtēto devumu mākslā.
Īsti labas žanra literatūras baudījumu var sākt gūt, kad priekšplānā parādās nozagtās identitātes īpašnieks, vietējās hipiju apmetnes vadonis – Krokodilu Dandija britu variants. Protams, kārtīgs iemetējs un visa veida narkotiku baudītājs, kurš liktenīgu sakritību rezultātā klūst par ļoti dārgas gleznu kolekcijas pseidoīpašnieku. Apbrīnojami, kā, stāstot par mākslas pseidopazināju liekulību un aprobežotību, var izveidot ko līdzīgu sazvērestības teorijai.
Grāmatā ir raiti, asprātīgi dialogi, spilgti raksturi, laba valoda, pārsteidzoši sižeta pvērsieni. Bezmaz vai obligāta grāmata šodienas depresīvajā politiskajā un ekonomiskaja ikdienā.
Brīnišķīga ir vāka izvēle izdevumam latviešu valodā – maz zināmas, bet izcilas mākslinieces Māras Vaičunas gleznas reprodukcija ( viņas gleznu izstāde Nacionālajā mākslas muzejā ir gaidāma 2025.gada beigās vai 2026.gada sākumā). Ārkārtīgi atbilstoši tieši šim grāmatas izdevumam ir mākslas zinātnieces Ingrīdas Burānes ievadvārdi par Māras Vaičunas nenovērtēto devumu mākslā.
March 6, 2025
Par ko smejaties, draugi? Par sevi.
Ļoti savdabīga grāmata - it kā par mākslas pasauli, bet tomēr gribas teikt pasauli kopumā. Kur liela nauda var nopirkt visu, izņemot...prātu. Kur sekošana kādam varenajam, viņa gaumei un spriedumiem ir svarīgāka par paša saprašanu, jo tādas vienkārši nav, bet skaļi teikt taču nedrīkst.
Šeit par mākslas kuratoru var kļūt cilvēks, kurš par mākslu nezina neko un kuru daudz vairāk interesē un aizrauj kulinārija, taču savas izveicības dēļ un cita muļķīguma pēc, tieši viņš daudzu gadu garumā diktē māksas pasaules notikumus. Te nejaušības dēļ par pasaules noslēpumaināko un vērtīgākās kolekcijas īpašnieku var kļūt cilvēks, kurš dzīvo treilerī un kura sapnis ir sapīpēties līdz baltām pelītēm (bet visā visumā - vienkāršs un patīkams cilvēks, kurš nav pakļāvies dzīves straumei).
Reizēm smieklīgi, reizēm pat skumji, domājot par cilvēka dabu, vēlmi pieslēgties "pareizajam" (it īpaši jau vēl bagāta cilvēka) viedoklim, un it katrā mākslas darbā redzēt vien....visumu, ne tā patieso dvēseli.
Ļoti savdabīga grāmata - it kā par mākslas pasauli, bet tomēr gribas teikt pasauli kopumā. Kur liela nauda var nopirkt visu, izņemot...prātu. Kur sekošana kādam varenajam, viņa gaumei un spriedumiem ir svarīgāka par paša saprašanu, jo tādas vienkārši nav, bet skaļi teikt taču nedrīkst.
Šeit par mākslas kuratoru var kļūt cilvēks, kurš par mākslu nezina neko un kuru daudz vairāk interesē un aizrauj kulinārija, taču savas izveicības dēļ un cita muļķīguma pēc, tieši viņš daudzu gadu garumā diktē māksas pasaules notikumus. Te nejaušības dēļ par pasaules noslēpumaināko un vērtīgākās kolekcijas īpašnieku var kļūt cilvēks, kurš dzīvo treilerī un kura sapnis ir sapīpēties līdz baltām pelītēm (bet visā visumā - vienkāršs un patīkams cilvēks, kurš nav pakļāvies dzīves straumei).
Reizēm smieklīgi, reizēm pat skumji, domājot par cilvēka dabu, vēlmi pieslēgties "pareizajam" (it īpaši jau vēl bagāta cilvēka) viedoklim, un it katrā mākslas darbā redzēt vien....visumu, ne tā patieso dvēseli.
September 8, 2025
The Accidental Collector is a gleeful satire that takes a paintball gun to the pretensions of the art world—and hits its mark with every splatter.
Guy Kennaway introduces us to Herman Gertsch, a globe-trotting art dealer whose attempt to open a gallery in rural Somerset goes hilariously off the rails. Enter Brother Burn, a penniless local trickster, and suddenly we’re knee-deep in mistaken identities, psychedelic detours, and million-dollar art scams.
The plot is chaotic in the best way—like a Damien Hirst spin painting come to life. Kennaway’s prose is sharp, his characters delightfully absurd, and the whole thing hums with irreverent charm. Beneath the farce, though, there’s a surprisingly thoughtful meditation on authenticity, value, and the strange rituals we perform in the name of culture.
If you enjoy satire with bite, eccentric characters, and a plot that refuses to behave, this one’s worth collecting.
Guy Kennaway introduces us to Herman Gertsch, a globe-trotting art dealer whose attempt to open a gallery in rural Somerset goes hilariously off the rails. Enter Brother Burn, a penniless local trickster, and suddenly we’re knee-deep in mistaken identities, psychedelic detours, and million-dollar art scams.
The plot is chaotic in the best way—like a Damien Hirst spin painting come to life. Kennaway’s prose is sharp, his characters delightfully absurd, and the whole thing hums with irreverent charm. Beneath the farce, though, there’s a surprisingly thoughtful meditation on authenticity, value, and the strange rituals we perform in the name of culture.
If you enjoy satire with bite, eccentric characters, and a plot that refuses to behave, this one’s worth collecting.
February 19, 2022
3.5 stars
I can see why this book won the Everyman Wodehouse Prize. Kenneway created a lot of hilarious moments, surprising plot turns, clever dialogue, and threw in some slapstick. I especially loved the dialogue of people who know nothing about modern art trying to sound like they’re experts. Kennaway has some interesting things to say about how much trust we put in those with money and power even when their wisdom or character may be questionable. For all we know, even the money and power may be illusions.
He rounded the book out with some scary drama and mystery, too. However, for me, the pace dragged at times. I think I might enjoy it even more as a movie. There's a huge cast of characters, and I'd probably keep track of them better by face.
I can see why this book won the Everyman Wodehouse Prize. Kenneway created a lot of hilarious moments, surprising plot turns, clever dialogue, and threw in some slapstick. I especially loved the dialogue of people who know nothing about modern art trying to sound like they’re experts. Kennaway has some interesting things to say about how much trust we put in those with money and power even when their wisdom or character may be questionable. For all we know, even the money and power may be illusions.
He rounded the book out with some scary drama and mystery, too. However, for me, the pace dragged at times. I think I might enjoy it even more as a movie. There's a huge cast of characters, and I'd probably keep track of them better by face.
May 18, 2025
📖G. Kenaveja romāns "Nejaušais kolekcionārs" ieved asprātīgā un ironiskā laikmetīgās mākslas mīļotāju pasaulē. Dzīve ir aizraujošu nejaušību pilna, bet dažas mūsu apzinātas izvēles var radīt komiskus pārpratumus un neatgriezeniskas sekas, kas pēkšņi sāk velties virsū kā lavīna. Lai arī šī lasāmviela man vairāk bija kā aizraujoša izklaide, tomēr aiz šķietamās nenopietnības, "Nejaušais kolekcionārs" ir arī par varu, naudu, bagātību,sabiedrību, ambīcijām, nepiepildīto potenciālu, par tēliem, kas esam, kas gribam būt un ko izveidojam, lai citi mūs redzētu kādā atšķirīgā un mākslīgi veidotā gaismā. Dažreiz ir iespējams veiksmīgi iejusties kā romāna galvenajam varonim - amizantajam Hermanim. Viņam tas sanāk pat gluži dabiski.
📖Mākslas darbu kolekcionēšana var būt gan kā statusa apliecinājums,gan arī azartiska atkarība. Var jau pasmīkņāt par šiem snobiskajiem romāna varoņu raksturiem un attēloto vidi, bet tā šķiet tik precīza un ticama, kāda patiesi varētu būt arī reālajā dzīvē un zināmās aprindās. Grāmata, kas aktualizē jautājumu-kas skaitās vērtīgs mākslas darbs? Vai to nosaka augstāka cena? 🤔
📖Uzzināju arī jaunu jēdzienu- keipers- kriminālžanra paveids, kurā sižets saistīts ar svešas identitātes piesavināšanos, viltošanu. Es biju gaidījusi pavisam citādas romāna beigas, vēl kādu pavērsienu, bet viss beidzās laikam diezgan likumsakarīgi un savā ziņā pat laimīgi. Pats autors minējis,ka viņa mērķis ir iepriecināt un uzjautrināt, domāju, ka viņam ar šo darbu to ir izdevies panākt- man tas spēja uzlabot noskaņojumu.
Grāmata saņemta apmaiņā pret godīgu atsauksmi.
📖Mākslas darbu kolekcionēšana var būt gan kā statusa apliecinājums,gan arī azartiska atkarība. Var jau pasmīkņāt par šiem snobiskajiem romāna varoņu raksturiem un attēloto vidi, bet tā šķiet tik precīza un ticama, kāda patiesi varētu būt arī reālajā dzīvē un zināmās aprindās. Grāmata, kas aktualizē jautājumu-kas skaitās vērtīgs mākslas darbs? Vai to nosaka augstāka cena? 🤔
📖Uzzināju arī jaunu jēdzienu- keipers- kriminālžanra paveids, kurā sižets saistīts ar svešas identitātes piesavināšanos, viltošanu. Es biju gaidījusi pavisam citādas romāna beigas, vēl kādu pavērsienu, bet viss beidzās laikam diezgan likumsakarīgi un savā ziņā pat laimīgi. Pats autors minējis,ka viņa mērķis ir iepriecināt un uzjautrināt, domāju, ka viņam ar šo darbu to ir izdevies panākt- man tas spēja uzlabot noskaņojumu.
Grāmata saņemta apmaiņā pret godīgu atsauksmi.
June 14, 2023
A caper sending up the ludicrous world of modern art collecting. Good, enjoyable fun that cracks along at a fair pace. Even includes an observation worthy of the best of books: "You couldn't get better at sex by being richer - that was the central problem. There was this horrible, non-negotiable fact that poor people could actually have better sex than the rich, a truth that constantly gnawed at the egos of the wealthy. Better to stick to things that were well beyond the reach of the poor, like yachts and houses, and, of course, art."
February 27, 2022
A Witty Tour of Art and Cheese Boards
Sharp, clever and good naturedly funny. Often, books written to amuse the reader are cynical or even mean spirited. I appreciated this author’s ability to poke fun at us all and at the absurdity of not only the art world but of people in general, while still clearly enjoying himself and his characters.
Sharp, clever and good naturedly funny. Often, books written to amuse the reader are cynical or even mean spirited. I appreciated this author’s ability to poke fun at us all and at the absurdity of not only the art world but of people in general, while still clearly enjoying himself and his characters.
December 25, 2021
Love a little humor in the art world since so many members are humorless...museum club more than gallery group.
One of the best "trading places" novels I've read...although it wasn't really trading places since John didn't know he'd been traded.
One of the best "trading places" novels I've read...although it wasn't really trading places since John didn't know he'd been traded.
September 13, 2021
Not a bad read, fairly charming in a quirky way. Not laugh out loud hilarious though. It’s an interesting idea with good characters and is generally quite well written.
December 6, 2021
Funny and light. Doesn’t always make sense
December 12, 2021
Fun and easy story, set amongst art dealers world in England.
July 25, 2023
Utterly fantastic and hilarious
December 24, 2024
Ļoti neparasta grāmata. Kopumā 4.3, bet par lielisku tulkojumu dodu 5*
January 31, 2025
Ļoti aizraujoša, interesanta tēma par mākslas tirgus pasauli ar neparedzamiem sižeta pagriezieniem.
February 9, 2025
Grāmata ar viena cilvēka dzīves maiņu un ar otra paralēlu dzīvju izdzīvošanu.
https://domgraudi.blogspot.com/2025/0...
https://domgraudi.blogspot.com/2025/0...
June 21, 2025
Such an easy read. It was quite plesant and entertaining.
July 20, 2025
Ar sirsnīgu humoru uzrakstīts par augstās mākslas tirgu. Kas mākslas tirgū nosaka toni - zināšanas un izglītība vai nauda.
Labvēlīgs humors, kas tomēr atklāj lietu patieso dabu.
Labvēlīgs humors, kas tomēr atklāj lietu patieso dabu.
August 3, 2025
ļoti paredzama un nekā pārsteidzoša, arī nesanāca iesmieties, pat ne pavīpsnāt. pozitīvais? lasās ātri un raiti
September 18, 2025
“Labs darbiņš. Hermētisks. Nevainojams. Un viss tik skaidrs.” :)
November 27, 2025
Tik cilvēcīgi, ar humoru un patiesumu rezultātā.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews