Silk Roads: The Asian Adventures of Clara and André Malraux (Tauris Parke Paperbacks)

André and Clara Malraux had the world at their feet. Wealthy and carefree, their life was a bohemian idyll spent frequenting the hottest clubs and restaurants, and traveling and mingling with the Paris literary set. But all this changed when the stock market crashed and their fortune disappeared overnight. Penniless but still craving adventure, André dreamt up a plan to travel to French Indochina where they would collect temple treasures and sell them for a huge profit in America. Against all the odds—jungle fevers, inexperience, and uncooperative locals—they succeeded. But their treasure hunt turned into a dangerous crusade when Clara and André set up an anti-government newspaper in Saigon, defiantly exposing colonial injustices, corruption, and the government’s stifling of Asian culture.

One of the greatest art theft stories of the 20th century: André Malraux, French novelist, art theorist, and eventually France’s Minister of Cultural Affairs, and his wife, Clara, traveled to Cambodia in 1923, planning to steal and smuggle artifacts out of the country and sell them in America. The Cambodian treasure hunt promised to be a mix of cultural sleuthing for important antiquities and risk-taking on the fuzzy edge of the laws that governed historical sites. The jungle expedition ended in arrest and, for André, trial and conviction. But it also led to a second Asian venture: the launching of a Saigon newspaper,   L’Indochine, dedicated to the aspirations of the indigenous population. Madsen follows the couple from this fateful adventure that so shaped their future to the end of their marriage, and after.  

One of the greatest art theft stories of the 20th century. Andr & eacute; Malraux, French novelist, art theorist, and eventually France & rsquo;s Minister of Cultural Affairs and his wife, Clara, travelled to Cambodia in 1923, planning to steal and smuggle artifacts out of the country and sell them in America. The Cambodian treasure hunt promised to be a mix of cultural sleuthing for important antiquities and risk-taking on the fuzzy edge of the laws that governed historical sites. The jungle expedition ended in arrest and, for Andr & eacute;, trial and conviction. But it also led to a second Asian venture: the launching of a Saigon newspaper, L & rsquo;Indochine, dedicated to the aspirations of the indigenous population. Madsen follows the couple from this fateful adventure that so shaped their future to the end of their marriage, and after. One of the greatest art theft stories of the 20th century: André Malraux, French novelist, art theorist, and eventually France's Minister of Cultural Affairs, and his wife, Clara, traveled to Cambodia in 1923, planning to steal and smuggle artifacts out of the country and sell them in America. The Cambodian treasure hunt promised to be a mix of cultural sleuthing for important antiquities and risk-taking on the fuzzy edge of the laws that governed historical sites. The jungle expedition ended in arrest and, for André, trial and conviction. But it also led to a second Asian venture: the launching of a Saigon newspaper, L'Indochine , dedicated to the aspirations of the indigenous population. Madsen follows the couple from this fateful adventure that so shaped their future to the end of their marriage, and after. One of the greatest art theft stories of the 20th century. André Malraux, French novelist, art theorist, and eventually France's Minister of Cultural Affairs and his wife, Clara, travelled to Cambodia in 1923, planning to steal and smuggle artifacts out of the country and sell them in America. The Cambodian treasure hunt promised to be a mix of cultural sleuthing for important antiquities and risk-taking on the fuzzy edge of the laws that governed historical sites. The jungle expedition ended in arrest and, for André trial and conviction. But it also led to a second Asian venture: the launching of a Saigon newspaper, L'Indochine, dedicated to the aspirations of the indigenous population. Madsen follows the couple from this fateful adventure that so shaped their future to the end of their marriage, and after "Andre and Clara Malraux had the world at their feet. Wealthy and carefree, their life was a bohemian idyll, spent frequenting the hottest clubs and restaurants, travelling and mingling with the Paris literary set. ... Andre dreamt up a plan to travel to French Indochina where they would collect temple treasures and sell them for a huge profit in America. Against all the odds - jungle fevers, inexperience and uncooperative locals - they succeeded. But their treasure hunt turned into a dangerous crusade when Clara and Andre set up an anti-government newspaper in Saigon, defiantly exposing colonial injustices, corruption and the government's stifling of Asian culture."--Publisher description Axel Madsen authored twenty-two books, including sixteen biographies. His most notable works include an in-depth look at the life of a legendary fashion icon, Chanel: A Woman of Her Own, and an investigation of the relationship between Gloria Swanson and Joe Kennedy, Gloria and Joe: The Star-Crossed Love Affair of Gloria Swanson and Joe Kennedy. Madsen began his journalism career as a legman for columnist Art Buchwald in Paris, and later wrote one of the first books on television's longest-running news magazine show, 60 Minutes: The Power and the Politics of America's Most Popular TV News Show Andre and Clara Malraux had the world at their feet. Wealthy and carefree, their life was a bohemian idyll, spent frequenting the hottest clubs and restaurants, travelling and mingling with the Paris literary set. But all this changed when the stock market crashed and their fortune disappeared overnight.