Priceless Audiobook By Robert K. Wittman, John Shiffman cover art

Priceless

How I Went Undercover to Rescue the World's Stolen Treasures

 Preview

Audible Standard 30-day free trial

Try Standard free
Select 1 audiobook a month from our entire collection of titles.
Yours as long as you’re a member.
Get unlimited access to bingeable podcasts.
Standard auto renews for $8.99 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Priceless

By: Robert K. Wittman, John Shiffman
Narrated by: Mark Deakins
Try Standard free

$8.99 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $18.00

Buy for $18.00

The Wall Street Journal called him “a living legend.” The London Times dubbed him “the most famous art detective in the world.”

In Priceless, Robert K. Wittman, the founder of the FBI’s Art Crime Team, pulls back the curtain on his remarkable career for the first time, offering a real-life international thriller to rival The Thomas Crown Affair.

Rising from humble roots as the son of an antique dealer, Wittman built a twenty-year career that was nothing short of extraordinary. He went undercover, usually unarmed, to catch art thieves, scammers, and black market traders in Paris and Philadelphia, Rio and Santa Fe, Miami and Madrid.

In this page-turning memoir, Wittman fascinates with the stories behind his recoveries of priceless art and antiquities: The golden armor of an ancient Peruvian warrior king. The Rodin sculpture that inspired the Impressionist movement. The headdress Geronimo wore at his final Pow-Wow. The rare Civil War battle flag carried into battle by one of the nation’s first African-American regiments.

The breadth of Wittman’s exploits is unmatched: He traveled the world to rescue paintings by Rockwell and Rembrandt, Pissarro, Monet and Picasso, often working undercover overseas at the whim of foreign governments. Closer to home, he recovered an original copy of the Bill of Rights and cracked the scam that rocked the PBS series Antiques Roadshow.

By the FBI’s accounting, Wittman saved hundreds of millions of dollars worth of art and antiquities. He says the statistic isn’t important. After all, who’s to say what is worth more --a Rembrandt self-portrait or an American flag carried into battle? They're both priceless.

The art thieves and scammers Wittman caught run the gamut from rich to poor, smart to foolish, organized criminals to desperate loners. The smuggler who brought him a looted 6th-century treasure turned out to be a high-ranking diplomat. The appraiser who stole countless heirlooms from war heroes’ descendants was a slick, aristocratic con man. The museum janitor who made off with locks of George Washington's hair just wanted to make a few extra bucks, figuring no one would miss what he’d filched.

In his final case, Wittman called on every bit of knowledge and experience in his arsenal to take on his greatest challenge: working undercover to track the vicious criminals behind what might be the most audacious art theft of all. Biographies & Memoirs Con Artists, Hoaxes & Deceptions History & Criticism True Crime Crime Exciting Art Art Crime
Fascinating Art Crimes • Engaging Memoir • Fantastic Voice • Educational Content • Unique Perspective

Highly rated for:

All stars
Most relevant
The narrator voice was fantastic and the story gripping and compelling. I'm not an art connoisseur and still I could follow and understand.

Excellent story

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Any additional comments?

A wonderful look back at one's successful life of good versus greed. An amazing story recounting recovery of important pieces of human history and culture by a few FBI individuals and then small unit devoted and passionate about importance of the art. The message: it is not about putting bad guys in jail, but being able to offer current and future generations a glance into the past. A read worth listening!

For the love of art!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
The author has an eye for detail, not surprising given his work. He is a great observer and tells the finest story. Keep up the great work.

Great story. I love art and history so Bob’s books are tops.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Wittman’s story about the world of art and the underworld that deals in it will not disappoint. Not only will the reader come away with an understanding of this multi-billion dollar criminal enterprise, but also the nail-biting story how one undercover agent changed how the FBI now views and approaches the theft of art.

A riveting memoir of cops, robbers and art

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
It was amazing to me how little these art treasures were valued by the FBI hierarchy and how few resources were allocated for their recovery.

Good story

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews