The Swan Thieves
| Company type | Novel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | 2010 |
| Founder | Elizabeth Kostova |
| Products | Book |
The Swan Thieves is a 2010 novel authored by American writer Elizabeth Kostova. The "old painter" referenced prior to the opening chapter is Alfred Sisley. The character Beatrice de Clerval draws inspiration from the life of Berthe Morisot, though she is not directly modeled after any specific historical artist.
Reception
Entertainment Weekly assigned the novel a grade of "C". According to The Washington Post, the narrative presents a straightforward plot featuring characters who exhibit minimal development, all of whom are painters sharing comparable interests and perspectives.
The Swan Thieves marked Kostova's return to The New York Times Best Seller list. In the United States, it entered the hardcover fiction chart at number four and remained within the top 20 for more than four weeks. In Canada, it debuted at number seven on The Globe and Mail bestseller rankings. With sales reaching 118,218 copies in the U.S. during 2010, it was among just 126 hardcover novels that year to exceed 100,000 units sold.