Quotes from book
The Swan Thieves

Name: The Swan Thieves
Author: Elizabeth Kostova

The Swan Thieves is a 2010 novel by American author Elizabeth Kostova. The "old painter" described in the book before the first chapter is Alfred Sisley. Beatrice de Clerval is not based on a single real artist, but Kostova was influenced in developing her life by the life of Berthe Morisot.

“He can't really love anyone, you know, and in the end such people are always alone, no matter how much other people once loved them.”

Elizabeth Kostova book The Swan Thieves

Source: The Swan Thieves

“The problem is simply finding the right person. Ask Plato. Just make sure she finishes your thoughts and you finish hers. That's all you need.”

Elizabeth Kostova book The Swan Thieves

Source: The Swan Thieves

“It's funny; in this era of e-mail and voice mail and all those things that even I did not grow up with, a plain old paper letter takes on amazing intimacy.”

Elizabeth Kostova book The Swan Thieves

Source: The Swan Thieves

“… what will we someday do, I always wonder, without the pleasures of turning through books and stumbling on things we never meant to find?”

Elizabeth Kostova book The Swan Thieves

Source: The Swan Thieves