The Golden Flea

A Story of Obsession and Collecting

By: Michael Rips

Narrated by: Peter Berkrot

Across America and around the world, people wander through flea markets to search for lost treasures. For decades, no such market was more renowned than the legendary Chelsea flea market, which sprawled over several blocks and within an old garage on the west side of Manhattan. Visitors would trawl through booths crammed with vintage dresses, rare books, ancient swords, glass eyeballs, Afghan rugs, West African fetish dolls, Old Master paintings, and much more.

In The Golden Flea, the acclaimed writer Michael Rips takes listeners on a trip through this charmed world. With a beguiling style that has won praise from Joan Didion and Susan Orlean, Rips recounts his obsession with the flea and its treasures and provides a fascinating account of the business of buying and selling antiques. Along the way, he introduces us to the flea's lovable oddball cast of vendors, pickers, and collectors, including a haberdasher who only sells to those he deems worthy; an art dealer whose obscure paintings often go for enormous sums; a troubadour who sings to attract customers; and the Prophet, who finds wisdom among all the treasures and trash.

As Rips' passion for collecting grows and the flea's last days loom, he undertakes a quest to prove the provenance of a mysterious painting that just might be the one.

©2020 Michael Rips (P)2020 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

Loved every minute of it!

Such a great story!
Especially for those of us who go to the various flea markets, on a regular basis!
The writer let you imagen exactly what was taking place! and being that I know this man made it more interesting!
Terrific book!

Fantastic

For any one in NYC or any one who ever visited the flea market a weekend ritual . Just amazing