Beauty Obsession and the Natural History Heist of the Century: The True Story of a Scientist's Obsession with Beauty, Diamonds, and the World's Most Elaborate Heist

In 1964, Marie Antoinette's diamond necklace was stolen from the Louvre Museum in Paris. The heist was one of the most elaborate and audacious in history, and it was masterminded by a scientist named Jacques Rival.

The Feather Thief: Beauty, Obsession, and the Natural History Heist of the Century

by Kirk W. Johnson

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	32812 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	318 pages

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Rival was born in France in 1930. He was a brilliant scientist, and he earned a doctorate in chemistry from the University of Paris. But Rival was also obsessed with beauty, and he believed that the Marie Antoinette necklace was the most beautiful object in the world.

Rival spent years planning the heist. He studied the Louvre's security system, and he enlisted the help of a team of experts. The team included a locksmith, a jeweler, and a driver. Rival also acquired a number of fake passports and disguises.

On the night of the heist, Rival and his team entered the Louvre through a window that they had broken earlier. They made their way to the room where the necklace was displayed, and they quickly stole it. The heist was so well-planned that the Louvre's security guards did not even notice that the necklace was gone until the next morning.

Rival and his team got away with the necklace, and they sold it for a large sum of money. Rival used the money to buy a house in Switzerland, where he lived for several years. But Rival was not content to simply enjoy his wealth. He was still obsessed with the necklace, and he wanted to find a way to display it publicly.

In 1969, Rival decided to exhibit the necklace at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. He did not want to risk being caught with the necklace, so he decided to create a fake necklace that would be indistinguishable from the real one. Rival spent months working on the fake necklace, and he eventually created a perfect replica.

Rival exhibited the fake necklace at the American Museum of Natural History, and it quickly became one of the most popular exhibits in the museum. People came from all over the world to see the necklace, and Rival was hailed as a genius. But Rival's luck did not last. In 1972, a woman who had seen the necklace at the museum recognized it as the real Marie Antoinette necklace. The woman contacted the Louvre, and the police were soon on Rival's trail.

Rival was arrested in 1973, and he was charged with theft. He was convicted and sentenced to life in prison. Rival died in prison in 1993.

The story of Jacques Rival and the Louvre heist is a fascinating tale of obsession, greed, and beauty. It is a reminder that even the most beautiful things can be dangerous, and that the pursuit of beauty can sometimes lead to disaster.

The Marie Antoinette Necklace

The Marie Antoinette necklace was one of the most valuable and elaborate pieces of jewelry in the world. It was made of diamonds and pearls, and it was worth millions of dollars. The necklace was a gift from King Louis XVI to his wife, Marie Antoinette. Marie Antoinette wore the necklace to many important events, and it became a symbol of her wealth and extravagance.

The necklace was stolen from the Louvre Museum in 1964, and it has never been recovered. The theft of the necklace is one of the most famous unsolved crimes in history.

Jacques Rival

Jacques Rival was a brilliant scientist and a master criminal. He was obsessed with beauty, and he believed that the Marie Antoinette necklace was the most beautiful object in the world. Rival spent years planning the heist of the necklace, and he eventually succeeded in stealing it.

Rival was a complex and contradictory figure. He was a brilliant scientist, but he was also a thief and a murderer. He was obsessed with beauty, but he was also willing to commit crimes to achieve his goals.

Rival's story is a cautionary tale about the dangers of obsession. It is a reminder that even the most beautiful things can be dangerous, and that the pursuit of beauty can sometimes lead to disaster.

The Feather Thief: Beauty, Obsession, and the Natural History Heist of the Century

by Kirk W. Johnson

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	32812 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	318 pages

FREE