 At the time of publication , author Dennis Bock was 36 years old and living in Toronto . He had previously published a book of short stories called Olympia , but struggled with this project that would become his first novel , taking several years to write the novel . Doubleday Canada originally owned the rights but Bock withdrew the book from Doubleday citing " a difference of opinion " between himself and the editor . He had written two drafts , including one in which the main character was an art historian involved in art theft and looting during World War II . With a working title of A Man of Principle , Bock gave the draft to editor Phyllis Bruce in 1999 and sold it to Knopf for US $ 250 @,@ 000 . He re @-@ wrote most of the book with the help of Bruce , and two other editors , Gary Fisketjon of Knopf and Liz Calder of Bloomsbury ( who published the book in the UK ) . 
