The Elgin Affair: The Abduction of Antiquity's Greatest Treasures and the Passions It Aroused

Every year, millions visit London's British Museum to gaze upon the breathtaking Greek statues that were the jewels of the Parthenon. What they don't know is that behind the cold beauty of the Elgin Marbles (named for the nineteenth-century English aristocrat who carried them off) is a steamy tale of intrigue, adultery, and ruin. In The Elgin Affair, Theodore Vrettos has recreated in colorful detail the full, scandalous story behind the abduction of one of the world's great treasures. The cast includes Lord and Lady Elgin, Napoleon (who desperately wanted the marbles for the Louvre), the Turkish Sultan, Lord Byron, Keats, Lord Nelson, and the stunning beauty of the time, Lady Hamilton. Drawing on original source material -- letters, diaries, official reports, memoranda, and divorce proceedings -- Vrettos brings to life a fascinating slice of history. Rounding out the story of the marbles, the author concludes with the latest battles between the Greek and English governments over the rightful ownership of these priceless pieces.