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611 reviews for:
The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves, and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History
Robert M. Edsel
3.73 AVERAGE
611 reviews for:
The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves, and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History
Robert M. Edsel
3.73 AVERAGE
Edsel's writing style sometimes takes some missteps as he tries to navigate between straight history and a novelistic tone, but the content of the book makes up for the occasional narrative gaffe. The sheer scope of the Nazi machine is amazing and horrifying, and looking at their vacuum-like collection of art, books, archives, and personal affects gives the reader a different perspective on the story of a war that is (rightfully) dominated by the human toll of the Holocaust. As an archivist, the author's glance at the history of conservation studies was an unexpected bonus. I can see why George Clooney wanted to make this into a movie...
I found it slow to get into. And I did have trouble keeping track of the back story for each character/person. But an interesting book.
This was informative but not compelling like other nonfiction books I have read in the last several years. However I do like that the stories of art, monuments and cultural objects looted by the Nazis and saved by the Allies is being told. I am thankful I have seen many of these works of art in person such as the Bruges Madonna and Child by Michelangelo and the Ghent altarpiece by Van Eyck.
Interesting story about a part of the war that I didn't know a lot about (in terms of detail), but a little bit too dense to give it more than 3 stars.
Hideously boring book. Should have pictures and maps, should have some real story of the actual hunt for these treasures. This was a real disservice to the men who actually tried to find the lost art works.
This book has been on my "to read" list for a while, but with the movie coming out I thought I had better move it to the top of the list. It was definitely worth the read. While this is a work of nonfiction it reads like a mystery. Robert Edsel makes sure the reader connects with the men and women who were part of the Monuments Men during WWII. You get to know them and their families and their motivations.
I find it fascinating that not only did Hitler want to conquer Europe he also wanted to conquer its culture and artifacts. Hitler believed himself to be a connoisseur of art and set about acquiring as much as possible to build his collection and the collections of the museums he wanted to create. This meant the pillaging of Jewish art collections and the pillaging of museums in conquered lands. No one really knew the extent of his acquisitions and the acquisitions of his men until near the end of the war.
While the creation of the Monuments Men came from the top of the military brass, it was never fully staffed or given the materials needed to do the job properly. However, with little to help them out the Monuments Men were able to find and restore thousands of pieces of stolen art. I really enjoyed reading about how little conversations or bits of information would lead them to more bits which would lead them to a cache of stolen treasure. The Monuments Men were detectives on the trail of the biggest art heist in history. The fact that all of the stolen materials were found doesn't not in any way diminish their acts of heroism and determination. These men and women were and went on to be some of the pillars of the museum and art world and I am glad they are finally getting the recognition they so richly deserve.
I find it fascinating that not only did Hitler want to conquer Europe he also wanted to conquer its culture and artifacts. Hitler believed himself to be a connoisseur of art and set about acquiring as much as possible to build his collection and the collections of the museums he wanted to create. This meant the pillaging of Jewish art collections and the pillaging of museums in conquered lands. No one really knew the extent of his acquisitions and the acquisitions of his men until near the end of the war.
While the creation of the Monuments Men came from the top of the military brass, it was never fully staffed or given the materials needed to do the job properly. However, with little to help them out the Monuments Men were able to find and restore thousands of pieces of stolen art. I really enjoyed reading about how little conversations or bits of information would lead them to more bits which would lead them to a cache of stolen treasure. The Monuments Men were detectives on the trail of the biggest art heist in history. The fact that all of the stolen materials were found doesn't not in any way diminish their acts of heroism and determination. These men and women were and went on to be some of the pillars of the museum and art world and I am glad they are finally getting the recognition they so richly deserve.
When World War II began, few people were concerned about the potential loss of paintings, sculpture, documents, religious icons and art, or even renowned buildings. But incidents early in the War where notable structures were destroyed by the fighting made enough of an impression on world leaders that the Allies agreed to form a special division aimed at protecting and preserving the great art and cultural artifacts of the Western world. This group was called the Monuments, Fine Arts and Archives section (MFAA), and the men and women assigned to it became known simply as Monuments Men.
They were a diverse group--curators of major museums, and artists; historians and architects; scholars and archaeologists. They had no clear directive, and most worked alone or in pairs, as individual Monuments Men were assigned to each battle group. Each had to contend with Army bureaucracy, as well as a complete lack of supplies, transportation or assistants--there was a war on, and the MFAA mission got last pick of essentials.
This book follows just eight of the sixty or so Monuments Men who were in Europe between D-Day and V-E Day (after the war's end, their number swelled to 350). Those eight men figured in the recovery of millions of looted artworks, as well as altarpieces, priceless antiques and religious artifacts of Western Europe, and, of course, of the millions of Jewish families executed in the death camps. Hitler, the failed art student, had grandiose dreams of a massive cultural center surrounding his own great Fuhrermuseum, and he greedily hand-picked the choicest Masterworks for that goal. Meanwhile, other Nazis acquired their own lesser artworks, usually for bragging rights (or to use as collateral for escape plans when the War ended). The MFAA discovered thousands of caches of art before they concluded their mission. Most of it was returned to the countries of origin, but many great works vanished, either destroyed or hidden and still missing.
It's an amazing story, full of heroes and scoundrels, comedy and tragedy, chance meetings and narrow rescues. Today scarcely anyone remembers the MFAA. But the cultural treasures they saved are among the most valued objects of our history and culture today.
They were a diverse group--curators of major museums, and artists; historians and architects; scholars and archaeologists. They had no clear directive, and most worked alone or in pairs, as individual Monuments Men were assigned to each battle group. Each had to contend with Army bureaucracy, as well as a complete lack of supplies, transportation or assistants--there was a war on, and the MFAA mission got last pick of essentials.
This book follows just eight of the sixty or so Monuments Men who were in Europe between D-Day and V-E Day (after the war's end, their number swelled to 350). Those eight men figured in the recovery of millions of looted artworks, as well as altarpieces, priceless antiques and religious artifacts of Western Europe, and, of course, of the millions of Jewish families executed in the death camps. Hitler, the failed art student, had grandiose dreams of a massive cultural center surrounding his own great Fuhrermuseum, and he greedily hand-picked the choicest Masterworks for that goal. Meanwhile, other Nazis acquired their own lesser artworks, usually for bragging rights (or to use as collateral for escape plans when the War ended). The MFAA discovered thousands of caches of art before they concluded their mission. Most of it was returned to the countries of origin, but many great works vanished, either destroyed or hidden and still missing.
It's an amazing story, full of heroes and scoundrels, comedy and tragedy, chance meetings and narrow rescues. Today scarcely anyone remembers the MFAA. But the cultural treasures they saved are among the most valued objects of our history and culture today.
I absolutely loved this book! WWII and art: two of my favorite things so what could go wrong?! It was very exciting and historical while being entertaining. I agree wholeheartedly in the mission of saving art, as it was stated in different ways: the art represents people's history and a sense of who they are, which is worth conserving. I just wish they employed the same tactics in later conflicts in Iraq and elsewhere. Rose Valland is one of my heroes after reading this book.
A fascinating look at the attempt to save the cultural and artistic legacy of the West during the Second World War. There is a movie adaptation that I found interesting, but far inferior to the book.
Interesting story that I didn't know much about, but had to push myself to finish it.