A review by seullywillikers
The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History by Robert M. Edsel

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

4.0

A tad dry, and I felt like the descriptions of Rose Valland was unfair and unnecessary (she's literally a spy and a French hero, why is her attractiveness something that needs expounding? I mean, if she deliberately made herself plain to keep under the radar during her spy work, that is one thing, but going on and on again and again about how unattractive and plain and drab etc etc just isn't very nice). Other than that, though, I felt like this is a historical narrative packed with details and supported by excellent research and primary sources. There is so much to know about WWII, the various factions, individuals, social pressures, and places, that a narrative like this adds so much context and explores such a little-known part of the whole, and that is quite satisfying.