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615 reviews for:
The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves, and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History
Robert M. Edsel
3.73 AVERAGE
615 reviews for:
The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves, and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History
Robert M. Edsel
3.73 AVERAGE
adventurous
informative
reflective
slow-paced
I finally finished! I loved learning the history, but I felt like I was doing required reading for school. I've read plenty of non-fiction that I've enjoyed and this wasn't one of them. I trudged on only because, like I said, I love the history.
Firstly, I thought this book would be a lot more exciting than it was. Second, whileI I certainly appreciate the value of (Western) culture, the author's comparison between lost art and lost lives is pretty gross. Like I understand that the Mona Lisa has great significance to our culture, but what they did is not akin to the lives that were at stake.
This book was incredibly interesting - though not a fast read. There is so much information on each page that it isn't one you can skim or speed through. That is especially true if you feel the need to look up each treasure mentioned as I did. There are some photos & maps included and they are a big help but are in black in white. Obviously, B&W isn't an issue for the maps but it does make a difference when admiring the subtleties of great art.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
I discovered this book because I saw the film at the cinema last year (2014). I just had to read the book to get to the truth behind the film.
The truth is that a tiny group of men and women achieved the incredible, under the most bizzarely difficult of circumstances. It's just such a shame that a book written about such amazing events could be so bad. I really struggled to get through this book because it was so badly written, I simple didn't feel compelled to pick it up and read it. It was very repetitive. Which I reckon is because of two authors? Their input must have been edited separately, because I cannot believe one editor would not pick up on such a thing.
I also got rather confused by the jumping around of locations, people and art/monuments etc. It was hard to follow. There are lots of parts of the book where I think too much information was given. Then really surprising points where there was virtually none! Like the deaths of two of the 'Main Characters'!!! This book pretty much just focused on the American point of view. I do appreciate there must have been years of extensive research to write this book and the topic is really too big to be contained in one book. (I know there are two others, but I really don't think I can bring myself to plod through them.) I feel let down by this book. Such a shame.
The truth is that a tiny group of men and women achieved the incredible, under the most bizzarely difficult of circumstances. It's just such a shame that a book written about such amazing events could be so bad. I really struggled to get through this book because it was so badly written, I simple didn't feel compelled to pick it up and read it. It was very repetitive. Which I reckon is because of two authors? Their input must have been edited separately, because I cannot believe one editor would not pick up on such a thing.
I also got rather confused by the jumping around of locations, people and art/monuments etc. It was hard to follow. There are lots of parts of the book where I think too much information was given. Then really surprising points where there was virtually none! Like the deaths of two of the 'Main Characters'!!! This book pretty much just focused on the American point of view. I do appreciate there must have been years of extensive research to write this book and the topic is really too big to be contained in one book. (I know there are two others, but I really don't think I can bring myself to plod through them.) I feel let down by this book. Such a shame.
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
The history of the Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives Section (MFAA) in World War II. This small, perpetually underfunded and underequipped group (they really couldn't even be technically called a unit) of arts experts worked with Allied forces to preserve historical monuments threatened by battle damage, and to locate and recover the vast troves of artwork looted by the Nazis, and moved to hidden shelters within Germany.
This hunt for stolen treasures involved the recovery of some of the most important works of art by some of the greatest masters of painting and sculpture, with treasures hidden in locations ranging from deep salt mines to the "fairytale" castle of Ludwig the Mad, Neuschwanstein.
The narrative focuses on eight MFAA soldiers, and two members of the French Resistance, drawing on thorough research, and incorporating many of their personal writings, including letters sent home during the war.
This was an engaging piece of history and a great story of the effort to save cultural treasures.
This hunt for stolen treasures involved the recovery of some of the most important works of art by some of the greatest masters of painting and sculpture, with treasures hidden in locations ranging from deep salt mines to the "fairytale" castle of Ludwig the Mad, Neuschwanstein.
The narrative focuses on eight MFAA soldiers, and two members of the French Resistance, drawing on thorough research, and incorporating many of their personal writings, including letters sent home during the war.
This was an engaging piece of history and a great story of the effort to save cultural treasures.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Antisemitism, War
This was so well written and very interesting. So glad that these men and women who saved and retrieved Europe's looted art from the Nazis have gotten more recognition in recent years. I hope the George Clooney movie coming out in Dec 2013 will do this story justice.
A bit dry in places and jumped around a lot but still a fascinating narrative about a part of history largely untold.
Good over all and worth a read, but can be hart to follow at times.