Possession

"Riveting. . . . [A] treasure trove of a book."—Willard Spiegelman, Wall Street Journal

"A fine and entertaining account."—Jas Elsner, Times Literary Supplement

"This slim volume is just bursting with read-them-to-a-friend anecdotes of collectors who'd stop at nothing. . . . Art is passion; Thompson understands. . . . The marvelous Possession offers a savvy history of passion as politics, a delightful collection of collectors and a love of art that might just send you to a museum."—Genevieve Valentine, NPR Books

"Timely and immensely enjoyable; . . . a cavalcade of history’s most ardent lovers of the antique. . . . Thompson’s brilliantly told tales create a sparkling tableau that invites further reflection on the politics of even the most solipsistic collectors."—James Delbourgo, The Atlantic Online

"A thought-provoking historical study by Erin Thompson, whose writing style is approachable and compelling. . . . Possession is not only a significant contribution to the scant literature focused on collectors and collecting of ancient art, but also a possible catalyst for change in the tastes and habits of present and future collectors of antiquities."—Molly E. Dotson, ARLIS/NA Reviews

"All the best art history books carry the sense that they're telling secrets, and Erin Thompson knows it; reading Possession feels like sneaking through a dark museum late at night. . . . A delight."—Genevieve Valentine, NPR

An NPR Best Book of 2016

Shortlisted for the 2017 Ralph Waldo Emerson Award from the Phi Beta Kappa Society.

"With elan and insight, Erin Thompson delves into the fascinating history of the human obsession to personally own physical relics of the past. Possession illuminates the complex psychological and social motives that drive individuals to collect antiquities, from ancient Roman emperors and Renaissance popes to modern connoisseurs and today's looters (and destroyers) of archaeological treasures."—Adrienne Mayor, author of The Amazons and The Poison King

"Erin Thompson advances the study of the art world by taking on the hard work: the examination of the motives behind those who take the leap into the world of collecting. Possession is an essential study of collecting throughout the ages, whether the art be precious or illicit, by a leading scholar in the field."—Anthony M. Amore, author of The Art of the Con and Stealing Rembrandts

Shortlisted for the 2017 Ralph Waldo Emerson Award from the Phi Beta Kappa Society.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson, Phi Beta Kappa Society