Portrait of a Thief

More about the book

In this lush, lyrical heist novel inspired by the true story of Chinese art vanishing from Western museums, themes of diaspora, art colonization, and the complexities of Chinese American identity unfold. History is often narrated by the conquerors, with Western museums showcasing art looted during conquests and colonialism. Will Chen, a Harvard senior, is determined to reclaim these treasures. He embodies the perfect student and son, but when a mysterious Chinese benefactor offers him an illegal job, he becomes the leader of a heist to steal back five priceless Chinese sculptures taken from Beijing centuries ago. His crew includes Irene Chen, a con artist and public policy major; Daniel Liang, a skilled thief and pre-med student; Lily Wu, a getaway driver and engineering major; and Alex Huang, a hacker and MIT dropout. Each member grapples with their own ties to China and their identities as Chinese Americans. Despite their complexities, they cannot refuse Will’s call to action. Success promises fifty million dollars and a chance to rewrite history, while failure risks losing everything they aspire to and another missed opportunity to reclaim what colonialism has stolen.