The Forger

At the turn of World War II, David Halifax is a young American painter who receives a scholarship to come to Paris and work under the tutelage of the mysterious and brilliant Russian painter, Alexander Pankratov. Getting more than he bargained for, Halifax is quickly subjected to Pankratov's rigid [...]
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At the turn of World War II, David Halifax is a young American painter who receives a scholarship to come to Paris and work under the tutelage of the mysterious and brilliant Russian painter, Alexander Pankratov. Getting more than he bargained for, Halifax is quickly subjected to Pankratov's rigid will, and beguiled by the quiet, nude model that poses before them.But Paris is also a city that is holding its breath. As the German invasion becomes imminent the once-indomitable city begins to expect the worst. Beneath Paris' blanket of fear and eerie calm, David Halifax realizes the true purpose of his visit: Pankratov is to train him in duplicating the masterworks of the Paris museums, and with the aid of a wily art dealer, barter the fakes to Hitler's legion of art dealers. What develops is a cat-and-mouse game through Paris' silent streets, in the tunnels beneath its museums, and eventually into the scorched countryside of Normandy. In their frantic race to complete one last forgery, both David and Pankratov are forced to confront the terrible sacrifices one must finally make for art; a sacrifice of identity, and perhaps of the soul. Author Biography: Paul Watkins is the author of seven novels, including The Story of My Disappearance, Archangel and The Promise of Light, as well as the memoir Stand Before Your God. He lives in New Jersey.