The Clarks of Cooperstown

by Nicholas Fox Weber

Book Overview

Nicholas Fox Weber, author of the acclaimed Patron Saints ("Exhilarating avant-garde entertainment"-Sam Hunter, The New York Times Book Review ) and Balthus ("The authoritative account of his life and... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0307263479
• ISBN13: 9780307263476
• Release Date: May 2007
• Publisher: Knopf Publishing Group
• Length: 420 Pages
• Weight: 1.97 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.7" x 6.5" x 9.4"

Customer Reviews

Excellent biography

It would be facile to describe Alfred, Sterling, or Stephen Clark just as "wealthy deadbeats". Look at all they accomplished! Directly or indirectly, members of this family are responsible for establishing three art museums (The Clark in Williamstown, MA; The Museum of Modern Art in NYC, and The Cloisters), as well as contributing valuable donations of art to so many others; establishing the Baseball Hall of Fame; building the historic Dakota apartment building in NYC, a hospital in Cooperstown, and so much more. Unlike some of the other reviewers, I appreciated Mr. Weber's thoughtful and detailed descriptions of the important works of art acquired by Sterling and Stephen Clark, particularly Van Gogh's 'The Night Cafe', and Seurat's 'Circus Sideshow', and what these paintings meant to the men who bought them. This is a consistently interesting book about a unique American family, with a fascinating cast of characters. The author's presentation of the lives of Alfred, Sterling, and Stephen Clark certainly didn't feel rushed to me, not at all. This is a well-researched, detailed book and Mr. Weber has a very engaging, almost personal way of telling it; his style is similar to great conversation. I recommend this biography, and also, as a companion piece to it, "The Clark Brothers Collect: Early Modern and Impressionist Paintings", the Metropolitan Museum of Art's exhibit catalog of works of art that were once owned by Sterling R. and Stephen C. Clark. Seeing the works of art they collected, and what they gave or bequeathed to American museums, the reader will appreciate their generosity all the more.

Cooperstown to the world

Enjoyed the book, it was educational for me, I am fan of biographys and history books and I was happy to have read it.

The Clarks of Cooperstown

Having attended school in Cooperstown in the Otesaga Hotel, I found the book fascinating as I had not known of the Clarks as other than the rich family in town. Seldom there but respected by the townsfolk. The book was well written and, while not, a bestseller it gives a vivid portait of art collecting in this country. A good read.

Don't believe everything you read in the NY Times!

Debby Applegate in the May 20, 2007 NY Times describes this as a "flawed family biography" although she admits it is "fascinating." It is indeed a fascinating family saga which resulted in great legacies to the National Gallery in Washington, DC; the Clark museum in Williamstown, MA; the Modern and Metropolitan museums in NYC; and several cultural institutions in Cooperstown, NY; not to mention the "Dakota" apartment building in NYC. Don't be misled by Ms. Applegate's smart alecky review.