Gay Salisbury Book order

The true story of one of the twentieth century's most audacious art frauds Filled with extraordinary characters and told at breakneck speed, Provenance reads like a well-plotted thriller. But this is most certainly not fiction. It is the astonishing narrative of one of the most far-reaching and elaborate cons in the history of art forgery. Stretching from London to Paris to New York, investigative reporters Laney Salisbury and Aly Sujo recount the tale of infamous con man and unforgettable villain John Drewe and his accomplice, the affable artist John Myatt. Together they exploited the archives of British art institutions to irrevocably legitimize the hundreds of pieces they forged, many of which are still considered genuine and hang in prominent museums and private collections today.

Set against the backdrop of a 1925 diphtheria epidemic in Nome, Alaska, the narrative reveals the urgent need for lifesaving antitoxin as the local doctor faces a dire situation. With transportation options limited by ice and blizzards, only dog teams can traverse the treacherous terrain. This gripping tale highlights the bravery of the sled dogs, particularly Balto, whose legendary journey inspired the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race and is commemorated by a statue in Central Park. It's a poignant tribute to heroism and resilience.

It is 1925. The goldrush town of Nome sits two degrees below the Arctic Circle, and there are few more forbidding places on earth. When signs of diptheria broke out, Dr Curtis knew it was the biggest crisis of his life. Supplies of the serum were dangerously low and it was winter. There would be an epidemic if the medicine didn't arrive in time.