
The Goldfinch opens with thirteen-year-old Theo Decker’s world shattered by a sudden terrorist attack at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Amid the chaos, he clings to one surviving masterpiece—Carel Fabritius’s The Goldfinch—setting him on a collision course with loss and obsession.
Orphaned and adrift, Theo is whisked away to the home of a wealthy family friend in Amsterdam. There, he discovers both sanctuary and peril: a murky art underworld that lures him deeper into a life of secrets, crime, and moral ambiguity.
As years pass, Theo’s stolen painting becomes his most burdensome possession and his only link to his mother. Donna Tartt masterfully weaves themes of grief, friendship, and the redemptive power of art, painting a vivid portrait of a young man searching for meaning.
From the opulent galleries of New York to dimly lit antiques dealers in Amsterdam, and back again, Theo’s journey is both a physical odyssey and an emotional reckoning. Each setting reflects his inner turmoil and longing for a place to belong.
Richly drawn and emotionally charged, The Goldfinch is an unforgettable exploration of fate, guilt, and the transformative power of art. Readers who crave intricate character studies and high-stakes drama will find themselves utterly enthralled.
Property | Value |
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ISBN: | |
Publisher: | Little, Brown and Company |
Publication date: | 08/07/2025 |
Pages: | 771 |
Subject: | Fiction |
Donna Tartt, an acclaimed American novelist, has captivated readers with her unique narrative style and compelling characters. Born in 1963 in Greenwood, Mississippi, Tartt discovered her passion for literature early on. She attended Bennington College in Vermont, where she honed her writing skills and formed lasting friendships with fellow authors such as Bret Easton Ellis and Jonathan Lethem. Tartt’s literary career took off with the publication of her debut novel, The Secret History (1992), a gripping tale of murder and moral ambiguity set within an elite college. The book quickly became a cult classic, garnering widespread praise for its intricate plot and philosophical depth. Tartt’s second novel, The Little Friend (2002), delves into the darkness of a Southern town’s history, further showcasing her signature blend of psychological insight and evocative prose. However, it was her third work, The Goldfinch (2013), that cemented her reputation as one of the great American authors. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, The Goldfinch tells the story of Theo Decker, a young boy whose life is torn apart after a bombing at an art museum. Donna Tartt’s novels are characterized by their complex plots, deeply flawed characters, and exploration of morality, making her a standout figure in contemporary American literature.