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Charles Willeford
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The Burnt Orange Heresy: A Novel Kindle Edition

by Charles Willeford (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 217 ratings
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A driven art critic’s plan to steal a painting leads to murder in this classic neo-noir novel by the author of the Hoke Moseley series.

Fast-talking, backstabbing, womanizing, and fiercely ambitious art critic James Figueras will do anything—blackmail, burglary, and beyond—to make a name for himself. When an unscrupulous collector offers Figueras a career-making chance to interview Jacques Debierue, the greatest living—and most reclusive—artist, the critic must decide how far he will go to become the art-world celebrity he hungers to be. Will Figueras stop at the opportunity to skim some cream for himself or push beyond morality’s limits to a bigger payoff?

Crossing the art world with the underworld, Willeford creates a novel of dark hue and high aesthetic polish. The Burnt Orange Heresy—the 1970s crime classic now back in print—has lost none of its savage delights as it re-creates the making of a murderer, calmly and with exquisite tension, while satirizing the workings of the art world as the ultimate con.

Now a major motion picture starring Donald Sutherland and Mick Jagger

Praise for The Burnt Orange Heresy

“Stunning . . . A novel full of genuine fun that also manages to make a level statement about the art world and its hermetic credulities.” —New Yorker
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  1. Print length
    176 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    The Overlook Press
  5. Publication date
    March 3, 2020
  6. File size
    2882 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"A spiky romance laced with art-history references and the trappings of a sleekly elegant neo-noir.

-- " Hollywood Reporter"

"There is most definitely drama to be had--along with several shocking acts of betrayal."

-- "Inside Hook"

About the Author

Charles Willeford (1919-1988) was an American writer of fiction, poetry, autobiography, literary criticism, and twenty novels, best known for his Hoke Moseley series, including Miami Blues, as well as such classics as Cockfighter and The Woman Chase.



Adam Verner is a stage, film, television, and voice actor and an Earphones Award-winning audiobook narrator. He holds a BS in theater arts from Bradley University and an MFA from Chicago College of the Performing Arts at Roosevelt University.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07WXHZ1FZ
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ The Overlook Press; Reprint edition (March 3, 2020)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 3, 2020
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2882 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 176 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 217 ratings

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Charles Willeford

Charles Willeford

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Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
4 out of 5
217 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Randy Johnson
5.0 out of 5 stars First Willeford
Reviewed in the United States on June 25, 2015
Verified Purchase
This is my first exposure to Charles Willeford's work and what I read is not exactly a crime novel. Oh, there's a murder victim here, arson, theft. But what it is is a take on the art world: critics, artists, collectors, and their sphere of existence.

Jacques Figueras is the art critic pushed into stealing from a reclusive painter.

First Willeford, but not likely my last.
10 people found this helpful
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NibbledtodeathbyDucks
4.0 out of 5 stars See The Film, Too!!
Reviewed in the United States on September 8, 2019
This is an absolute stitch -- the film of this book, which I hope is as worth watching as this is worth reading, premiered at the Venice Film Festival. Mick Jagger is in it, and posted a pic of himself on Instagram signing a one sheet, which reads, The Burnt Orange Heresy -- You Can't Paint Over The Truth. They have since been removed, one way or the other, but as of this morning, Mick was subjected to some of the most, even by Internet standards, vile, disgusting, moronic, racist posts it will ever be your sad experience to read BECAUSE REALLY SMART PEOPLE THOUGHT THE FILM WAS AN ATTACK ON TRUMP!!!!! God help us all: read the book, it's good, see the film, who knows at this point, and realize that no matter how good a writer is, you can't make some of this sick stuff up.
5 people found this helpful
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Michael G.
3.0 out of 5 stars Picture this.
Reviewed in the United States on November 24, 2020
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Iconoclastic author Charles Willeford (1919-1988) was demonstrating his versatility when he wrote The Burnt Orange Heresy. This is a novel about art or, more exactly, about art criticism. A subject I happen to be totally unfamiliar with. Putting me at a distinct disadvantage in appreciating the obviously satirical points Willeford endeavored to make. I do feel fairly confident in saying that, based on this novel, Willeford held a low opinion of art critics and their craft.
There's also a story to be told here. Narrator and featured character, James Figueras is an up and coming art critic and a complete and utter slimeball. There is nothing he will not do to advance his career. As The Burnt Orange Heresy unfolds, his actions become increasingly anti-social and shockingly criminal. So proceed at your own risk.
As an aside, the DVD just released in September of this year takes many liberties with the book and in my opinion is not very good. Though Mick Jagger in a small supporting role contributes a surprisingly competent performance.
One person found this helpful
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Susan & Tim Mahan
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read.
Reviewed in the United States on March 2, 2020
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I read the original book because a movie is coming out in March.
One person found this helpful
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WAZ
4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting Noir Novel
Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2021
The main character is very compelling in a similar way to Patrick Bateman. Cynical, utilitarian, and ruthless, but also methodical and focused. It's interesting to see how the "Burnt Orange Heresy" is created (written vs visual art) and the dialogue/details/actions of the characters is vivid and on point (one of the many reasons why I love the Crime Noir genre).
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William M. Neal
5.0 out of 5 stars This is the classic work here. Hard to get ...
Reviewed in the United States on December 11, 2015
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This is the classic work here. Hard to get a hold of and what the internet is for. GET IT!
2 people found this helpful
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Jonathan W Zeh
4.0 out of 5 stars This one at least I received so far. Still ...
Reviewed in the United States on August 26, 2014
This one at least I received so far. Still reading. Wondering where the rest of my order will arrive. Maybe today!
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J. Landau
1.0 out of 5 stars Ridiculous. Makes no sense at all.
Reviewed in the United States on May 28, 2020
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It's truly hard to believe that this story was sold to Hollywood. One can only imagine that the screenplay bears only minimal relation to the book. One literally doesn't know where to start with the criticism. An artist who everyone admires but has had only one poorly attended show in an obscure gallery featuring a single piece of work. He became legendary and universally admired. Huh? So much wrong with the story and the story telling.
3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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planer
4.0 out of 5 stars Geniale, sempre
Reviewed in Italy on June 5, 2021
Verified Purchase
CW non delude, anche se non è il suo libro migliore.
Colpi di scena non così sorprendenti e ho trovato un po' eccessive le tirate pseudo artistiche - sicuramente uno specialista troverebbe molto da ridire.
Personaggi tutto sommato originali e tutto/i molto ben delineati. Divertente, si legge in un baleno.
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Lindylou
4.0 out of 5 stars A strange but compelling book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 8, 2019
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This is an unusual book, the style of writing is a little like Elroy. Characters are odd too but somehow likeable. Willeford is a fabulous writer, so glad I found him & shame there'll be no more
One person found this helpful
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Jim Simpson
1.0 out of 5 stars Hopeless plot
Reviewed in Australia on August 18, 2020
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Total rubbish
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GUTMAN
1.0 out of 5 stars Over indulgent?
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 25, 2022
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An exercise in the author trying to show how knowledgeable he is about Art.
In the process, he forgot about the plot and loses the reader.
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