There has been one defining event in early twenty-something Theo Decker's life, it which separates his life into before the event and after the event, and which has directly or indirectly shaped everything important since: a terrorist bombing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City when Theo was thirteen. Theo and his mother were in the museum at the time, she killed in the explosion while Theo was in a different part of the museum.
Theo has blamed himself for her death in he being the reason for their unplanned trip there. With his alcoholic father out of the picture and his whereabouts unknown, Theo went to live temporarily with the upper middle class Barbour family, that of one of his few friends, Andy Barbour, until a more permanent situation could be arranged.
Another item specifically tied to that day is that out of circumstance, Theo stole a famous painting, The Goldfinch by Carel Fabritius, it since thought to having been destroyed in the explosion. Theo also comes to understand that there were others affected by the bombing, including the Blackwell family, antiques dealer and reburbisher Welty Blackwell also subsequently perishing from the explosion, while his young teen daughter, Pippa Blackwell, was, like Theo, emotionally traumatized and physically injured in the explosion.
Theo not only befriends Pippa but also Welty's business partner in Blackwell + Hobart, James Hobart, familiarly referred to as Hobie, and Welty, just before his death, who asked Theo to return something to Hobie for him. Theo's actions are largely dictated by having The Goldfinch in his possession, he not having told anyone of that fact.
Play | Title | Artist |
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The Goldfinch
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Concerto No. 5 in E-Flat Major for Piano and Orchestra, Op. 73, II. Adagio un poco mosso
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Lonesome Desert Blues
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Johnnie Billie Goat
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Let's Take the Long Way Home
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Blue Monk
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Your Silent Face
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Jai Ho! (You Are My Destiny)
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Cue from The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms
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David Buttolph:
Writer
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In Dulci Jubilo
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The Prague Symphony Orchestra:
Performer
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Leaf House
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Codex
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Thom Yorke:
Writer
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Everything in Its Right Place
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It's All Over Now, Baby Blue
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Goldberg Variations, BWV 988, Variation #27 Canone alla Nona
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Piano Concerto No. 1 in C Major, Op. 15, I. Allegro con brio
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Piano Concerto No. 1 in D Minor, Op. 15, I. Maestoso
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Apocalypse
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Turn Out the Lights
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Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat major Op. 73 II. Adagio un poco mosso
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Ludwig van Beethoven:
Performer
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Let's Take the Long Way Home
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Harold Arlen:
Performer
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It's All Over Now, Baby Blue
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Bob Dylan:
Performer
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Goldberg Variations BWV 988 No. 27 Canone alla nona
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Johann Sebastian Bach:
Performer
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Piano Concerto No. 1 in C major Op. 15 I. Allegro con brio
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Ludwig van Beethoven:
Performer
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Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor Op. 15 I. Maestoso
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Johannes Brahms:
Performer
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The Goldfinch
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Trevor Gureckis:
Performer
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Mrs. Barbour
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Trevor Gureckis:
Performer
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Interrogation
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Trevor Gureckis:
Performer
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Hobart & Blackwell
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Trevor Gureckis:
Performer
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Goldfinch Reveal
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Trevor Gureckis:
Performer
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Letter to Pippa
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Trevor Gureckis:
Performer
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Theo's Burden
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Trevor Gureckis:
Performer
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Return to the Barbours
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Trevor Gureckis:
Performer
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Lucious Reeves
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Trevor Gureckis:
Performer
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Boris's Father
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Trevor Gureckis:
Performer
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Theo & Pippa
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Trevor Gureckis:
Performer
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Las Vegas
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Trevor Gureckis:
Performer
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Desolation
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Trevor Gureckis:
Performer
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Civics Book
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Trevor Gureckis:
Performer
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Amsterdam
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Trevor Gureckis:
Performer
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The Story of the Goldfinch
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Trevor Gureckis:
Performer
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Boris Rescues Theo
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Trevor Gureckis:
Performer
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Beautiful Things
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Trevor Gureckis:
Performer
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The Goldfinch Theme (Solo Piano)
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Trevor Gureckis:
Performer
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Currents (Solo Piano)
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Trevor Gureckis:
Performer
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