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The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves, and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History |
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Amazon Sales Rank: 255
Publication Date: 2009-09-03
Publisher: Center Street
ISBN: 1599951495
Type: Hardcover
Number Of Pages: 496
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At the same time Adolf Hitler was attempting to take over the western world, his armies were methodically seeking and hoarding the finest art treasures in Europe. The Fuehrer had begun cataloguing the art he planned to collect as well as the art he would destroy: "degenerate" works he despised.
In a race against time, behind enemy lines, often unarmed, a special force of American and British museum directors, curators, art historians, and others, called the Momuments Men, risked their lives scouring Europe to prevent the destruction of thousands of years of culture.
Focusing on the eleven-month period between D-Day and V-E Day, this fascinating account follows six Monuments Men and their impossible mission to save the world's great art from the Nazis.
Average Rating: 
Review: 2009-11-10
WWII Insight - European Treasures
A fabulous insight into what else went on during WWII. Most instructive about the treasures of Europe. And the evilness of the Germans at the time. We thought we knew a lot about the treasures, but the book really opened our minds. J&J
Review: 2009-10-20
Art history or WWII buffs will probably enjoy it most
I received this book as a review copy from the publisher. "The Monuments Men" uses letters written by the Monuments Men and other documents to tell the story why the MFAA section was created and what eight of those men encountered while doing work in Normandy, France and in Germany.
The author assumes the reader doesn't know much about WWII and so fills in the details about the war occurring around them as we learn where they went and what they found and did there. The first part is mainly about how the MFAA section was formed and the problems they encountered in the field because no one else in the military seemed to know about them. The book picks up in excitement (at least, for me) once they start getting organized and start tracking down the movable artwork. This part reads like a detective story with the fate of both the artwork and the men searching for it in question.
The story jumps around a bit in time and place as we switch from one Monument Man to another. The author gives plenty of information so the reader will remember which man this is and what he was last doing, but this started to feel repetitious to me near the end. Also, some stories brought up small points that were never resolved (like a request from a priest to a Monuments Man to get several boys who where his fire brigade released from the Allies--we never know if he succeeded). But perhaps this was because that information was never given in the letters and documents used to make this book.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. I think it would most appeal to people who love artwork or who want to know everything there is to know about WWII.
Reviewed by Debbie from Different Time, Different Place Book Reviews (differenttimedifferentplace. blogspot. com)
Review: 2009-10-12
With some editing could have been five stars
The search for artwork stolen by the Nazis in WWII has been aptly described as "the greatest treasure hunt in treasury." As the soldiers who participated in this hunt were also charged with saving historical churches and other historical monuments, they were referred to as "Monument men."
The heoric quest of the Monument Men is an undertold story of WWII. Outside of art scholars and musuem curators, few are aware of the details of their saga. In his book, Robert Edsel provides us the details. He spent many years conducting research for this book and, particularly in the latter half of the story, the reader is rewarded by his effort.
While the research is impressive, I give "Monument Men" just four stars. With some better editing, it could have been a five star book. Here are some examples of the poor editing:
1) Early in the re-telling we are introduced to the only female character of importance, but we do not learn her backstory until some chapters later. Keeping the reader "in the dark" about the background of a main character is a literary technique fit for a mystery --- not an important work of non-fiction.
2) About halfway in the story we are told about an explosion behind allied lines. However, we do not learn the results of that explosion into well into the next chapter -- a chapter that concerns a different monument man hundreds of miles away. Again, the reader is given a mystery, and has to wait for the facts.
3) Seperate from the main body of the text, the author includes several relevant (and some marginally relevant) letters. The typeface used for German/Nazi sources is very similar, if not identical, to the typeface used from allied sources. Since the first few letters are from Nazi sources, the reader is setup to expect letters with the particular typeface will be from Nazi sources. In any reprinting of this book, there should be clearly different typefaces for Nazi and Allied sources.
Still, these flaws aside, a strong four stars.
Review: 2009-09-28
Another work of art by Edsel
I was first introduced to the Monuments Men through Robert Edsel's magnificent Rescuing Da Vinci and the film The Rape of Europa. Now here's the detailed story of this little known Allied operation to rescue the stolen treasures of Europe. I read it and couldn't put it down. Edsel should be applauded for his efforts in preserving these heroic deeds and individuals. I can't wait for his next book on the Monuments Men story in Italy. Read it if you are interested in art, World War II, or just want to be inspired by some wonderfully selfless acts that preserved the art and heritage of Europe and the world.
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Amazon List Price: $26.99
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