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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
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
We know and hear often of soldiers who nobly, selflessly risk their lives on behalf of their country and protecting freedoms, and the passion these Monument's Men felt for art drove them in the same incredible manner. Edsel details a part of our history not well known (until, of course, its recent movie), woven in with stories of personal struggle - noting particularly poignantly the balancing of strong feelings of repulsion of the actions of German soldiers, while still being compelled to save German culture and art. I had no idea we had this relatively small group of men (and Rose) to thank for so many of art's infamous destinations and pieces, nor how close they came to destruction. Enlightening, inspiring, and touching. A truly incredible story.
I really appreciated this book the further I got into it. Without being preachy, it did a great job of exposing how greedy and selfish the few Nazis at the top really were. It also showed the selfless dedication to the cause that was practiced by the small group of individuals who worked very hard to preserve so much culture. I would recommend this to anyone.
Just finished the movie, which was good in its own way, though very far from the facts of the book. Definitely more fiction, but still conveying the spirit of the task, and the personalities of some of the key people involved. Do not try to compare book and movie, just enjoy each on its own merits.
Just finished the movie, which was good in its own way, though very far from the facts of the book. Definitely more fiction, but still conveying the spirit of the task, and the personalities of some of the key people involved. Do not try to compare book and movie, just enjoy each on its own merits.
I know people say there are too many WWII books, but I am so glad for them as there are so many aspects to still learn about. I am grateful for the new appreciation I have for the hardworking men and women who used their skill and integrity to ensure the right thing was done. I did find some of the information superfluous and often repetitive which made it a little difficult to read.
In anticipation of seeing the new movie, Monuments Men, I was excited to read this book. I'm not a "war history" reader by any means, but this kept me engaged far more than I expected. Their story should never be forgotten. I skimmed a few pages that dragged along, telling battle history, but for the most part, I was engaged and caught up in the story of saving these priceless pieces of art.
Starts out strong, telling the rise and fall of Jews in a European town from the town's founding to Kristallnacht, and the Jewish boy born there who would eventually grow up to be a Monuments Man. After that, the book loses a bit of steam, going into detail about the internal politics and bureaucracy of getting the Monuments organization established.
I think this just isn't the book I wanted to read. I'm interested in art, and the Nazi stealing of art, and efforts to hide/recover these masterpieces. I'm not so interested in reading about soldiers figuring out how they can requisition needed supplies or get themselves transferred to another city.
While Edsel pays great attention to detail and accuracy, the writing often had an encyclopedic, tell-don't-show quality to it. Instead of offering real-life examples that allow readers to see what kind of person someone is, we're flat-out told his personality. It left me unable to engage with the characters.
The parts I really enjoyed were the historical tidbits (the Louvre got much of its art from Napoleonic looting), and stories of specific works of art, like the Ghent Alterpiece or the night the Nazis stole the Bruges Madonna. Good book to read while having Wikipedia or Google Images open on your computer, so you can see the art he's writing about. I would have loved a book about the adventures of specific works of art: when they were created, their importance, their theft by the Nazis, and their eventual recovery (or disappearance).
It's not this book's fault that it's not about that - it is called "Monuments Men," after all, and not "A Series of Vignettes about Nazi-stolen Art." I'd still recommend this book to WWII buffs who want a new twist on their favorite topic. Perfect gift for Dad/Grandpa/the historian in your family.
Bottom line: It's a WWII book that happens to be about art. I'll have to keep looking for an stealing-art book that happens to take place during WWII.
I think this just isn't the book I wanted to read. I'm interested in art, and the Nazi stealing of art, and efforts to hide/recover these masterpieces. I'm not so interested in reading about soldiers figuring out how they can requisition needed supplies or get themselves transferred to another city.
While Edsel pays great attention to detail and accuracy, the writing often had an encyclopedic, tell-don't-show quality to it. Instead of offering real-life examples that allow readers to see what kind of person someone is, we're flat-out told his personality. It left me unable to engage with the characters.
The parts I really enjoyed were the historical tidbits (the Louvre got much of its art from Napoleonic looting), and stories of specific works of art, like the Ghent Alterpiece or the night the Nazis stole the Bruges Madonna. Good book to read while having Wikipedia or Google Images open on your computer, so you can see the art he's writing about. I would have loved a book about the adventures of specific works of art: when they were created, their importance, their theft by the Nazis, and their eventual recovery (or disappearance).
It's not this book's fault that it's not about that - it is called "Monuments Men," after all, and not "A Series of Vignettes about Nazi-stolen Art." I'd still recommend this book to WWII buffs who want a new twist on their favorite topic. Perfect gift for Dad/Grandpa/the historian in your family.
Bottom line: It's a WWII book that happens to be about art. I'll have to keep looking for an stealing-art book that happens to take place during WWII.
Learned a lot I didn't know or didn't remember about WWII. Pretty cool tribe of men who did some amazing work during and after the war.
This was really great and well researched. It was hard to keep track of specific monuments men but that might have been because I listened to it on audio.
This was a great book. It was well written and read like a fascinating story, not like a history text. Incredible to hear about this part of WWII that was nearly forgotten for so long. One of the main reasons the author gives was because the "monuments men" never existed prior or since, and the majority of them saw their contributions as humble and not worthy of honors. What they were able to do and the amount of art history and culture they saved with very little money, resources, and manpower, is absolutely astounding. Highly recommended.