Book discussion: The Man Who Stole the Gods

Our latest book discussion focused on The Man Who Stole the Gods: A True Story of War, Obsession, and a Global Art Conspiracy by Matthew Campbell.

The story follows Douglas Latchford, a British art dealer who became one of the world's leading experts on ancient Cambodian sculptures. He wrote books, advised collectors, and built a reputation as someone who truly understood Khmer art. But there was one problem.

Many of the statues he wrote about had been looted from temples in Cambodia and sold on the international art market. Ironically, the very books that established his expertise also helped investigators trace many of the stolen artifacts, providing clues that connected the sculptures to their original homes.

The story has all the ingredients of an Indiana Jones adventure—ancient temples, hidden treasures, jungle expeditions, international intrigue, and decades-long investigations. It could easily make its way to the big screen. And the hero of the story? There are several, but our group voted "Lion" as the top contender.

One of the most interesting points in our discussion was Douglas Latchford's desire to be recognized as the world's leading expert on Khmer art. Is that always the downfall of the bad guys? The recognition he ultimately received was as one of Cambodia's most notorious art looters.

The story doesn't end there. After Latchford's death, much of the work of returning stolen artifacts fell to his family. An Anderson Cooper report explored this process and showed how Cambodia has been working to recover pieces of its history that had been scattered around the world for decades.

One thing our group noticed was that The Man Who Stole the Gods contains very few photographs. Since the book discusses ancient temples, sculptures, and Cambodian history, it helps to have other books nearby to provide visual context. Local libraries offer a wealth of resources on Cambodia, including beautifully illustrated children's books.

One of our favorite discoveries was The Last King of Angkor by Graeme Base. The children's story follows a lion, a gecko, a water buffalo, and a gibbon as they argue about who would make the best leader. Then a stone elephant statue comes to life and quietly teaches them what true leadership looks like. That detail is especially meaningful.

For many Cambodians, its statues are far more than works of art. They are part of their spiritual and cultural heritage, and many are believed to have a living presence or soul. They were created to remain in sacred places, not to be removed, bought, or sold as collectibles.

Our conversation also included films that provide additional context. The Killing Fields offers important background on Cambodia's modern history and the hardships its people have endured. The Lost City of Z explores the search for lost civilizations and ancient treasures.

One of the biggest takeaways from our discussion wasn't about archaeology or collecting. It was about legacy.

Douglas Latchford spent years building a reputation as an expert on Khmer art. In the end, he became known not for preserving Cambodia's history, but for the damage he caused.

The group gave The Man Who Stole the Gods a solid thumbs-up. It is an important book in art history and cultural heritage. This story is also far from over. Museums around the world, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, continue to return looted Cambodian artifacts, demonstrating that the effort to restore cultural heritage is still unfolding today.

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