Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

Negotiable Instrument

Episode 11 of 15

Theo finds that both art and love can be bought, sold and used as collateral.

Donna Tartt shot to fame with her iconic first novel, The Secret History, an instant bestseller. This was followed by The Little Friend in 2002. Eleven years later, her eagerly awaited, much anticipated third novel, The Goldfinch, comes to Book at Bedtime, coinciding with worldwide publication.

At the heart of the novel lies a masterwork by the Dutch painter Carel Fabritius, a picture of a small chained bird, The Goldfinch. This tiny painting becomes the only certainty for thirteen year old Theo Decker when his secure world with his devoted mother is shattered. From the chaos of existence with his reckless father, and a passionate friendship with the crazy, warm-hearted Boris, to the drawing rooms of the Upper East Side and a dusty downtown antique shop, Theo is left to find his own way through his teenage years and into adulthood. The painting is his talisman, his touchstone, until it draws him into a murky criminal underworld of drugs, art theft and fatal dealings.

Tartt follows Theo through grief, teenage delinquency, passionate friendship and obsessive love, in a story of enthralling suspense, peopled with unforgettable characters. As the drama reaches its gripping conclusion, Theo may or may not find out how to survive.

In today's episode: 'Negotiable instrument'. Theo finds that both art and love can be bought, sold and used as collateral.

Donna Tartt was born in Greenwood, Mississippi, and is a graduate of Bennington College. She is the author of the novels The Secret History, The Little Friend, and The Goldfinch.
The reader is Jamie Parker.
The abridger is Sally Marmion.
The producer is Di Speirs.

15 minutes

Last on

Mon 4 Nov 2013 22:45

Credits

Role Contributor
Reader Jamie Parker
Producer Di Speirs
Abridger Sally Marmion
Author Donna Tartt

Broadcast

  • Mon 4 Nov 2013 22:45

Kirsty Wark Meets Donna Tartt: A Review Show Special

Kirsty Wark Meets Donna Tartt: A Review Show Special

Kirsty Wark Meets Donna Tartt: A Review Show Special

Books

Celebrating reading and the 100 novels that have shaped our world.

How many of these 100 Novels have you read?

How many of these 100 Novels have you read?

After a passionate debate, our panel has come up with this surprising literary selection.

Finding Your Story

Finding Your Story

Ten remarkable novels about identity: Which one will help you discover yourself?

Short stories to keep

The fiction podcast featuring the best stories from the UK's finest writers