Cathy C. (cathyskye) -
Helpful Score: 1
While living in Florence, Italy, author Robert M. Edsel wondered how so many brilliant works of art could have survived the cataclysm that was World War II. What he discovered was the MFAA-- the Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives program-- a group of dedicated museum curators, artists, art restorers, art historians, and soldiers who risked their lives to save hundreds of years worth of European culture. Rightfully overshadowed by the horrors of Nazi concentration camps, the work these men and women did-- often with no weapons, no transportation, and no cameras or film-- has now come to light.
Like many readers, I came to The Monuments Men first through the film starring George Clooney. Although I did enjoy it, I couldn't get over the feeling that most of the story had been left untold. The Nazis stole millions of pieces of art and either kept them for themselves, destroyed them, or placed them in caches for Hitler's master plan art museum (which, thankfully, was never built). I had to learn more; thus, I turned to Edsel's book.
Edsel covers the period of time from D-Day to V-E Day in northwestern Europe. (In a second book, Saving Italy, the author covers MFAA efforts in that country; there's simply too much story to tell in one book.) The first third of the book is rather disjointed as Edsel jumps from location to location, relating the difficulties of implementing the MFAA objectives (which were backed by Eisenhower), introducing the Monuments Men, and explaining the scope of Nazi plundering. I was so fascinated by the subject matter that this choppiness scarcely phased me.
Once the stage has been set and the Allies fight their way out of France and Belgium, the book picks up speed, and the action does take on the appearance of a treasure hunt. When the Allies reach Germany, they discover that it's a race against the Russians to find over 1,000 caches tucked away mainly in the southern part of the country. Whereas the Allies are working to return the recovered art to its rightful owners, the Russians-- who have suffered horrendously at the hands of the Nazis-- will keep everything they find as war reparations.
I found this book to be fascinating on so many counts: the fact that people actually recognized the need to save their culture, the men and women of the MFAA who worked so hard under extreme circumstances (many of whom never spoke of what they did once the war was over), and yet more examples of Nazi rapaciousness. This is a topic that has importance today. Hundreds of thousands of works of art are still missing, and any online news source will provide recent stories of artwork stolen by the Nazis being uncovered. Edsel's book is fascinating reading for anyone interested in World War II or in art, and I fully intend to read more.
Like many readers, I came to The Monuments Men first through the film starring George Clooney. Although I did enjoy it, I couldn't get over the feeling that most of the story had been left untold. The Nazis stole millions of pieces of art and either kept them for themselves, destroyed them, or placed them in caches for Hitler's master plan art museum (which, thankfully, was never built). I had to learn more; thus, I turned to Edsel's book.
Edsel covers the period of time from D-Day to V-E Day in northwestern Europe. (In a second book, Saving Italy, the author covers MFAA efforts in that country; there's simply too much story to tell in one book.) The first third of the book is rather disjointed as Edsel jumps from location to location, relating the difficulties of implementing the MFAA objectives (which were backed by Eisenhower), introducing the Monuments Men, and explaining the scope of Nazi plundering. I was so fascinated by the subject matter that this choppiness scarcely phased me.
Once the stage has been set and the Allies fight their way out of France and Belgium, the book picks up speed, and the action does take on the appearance of a treasure hunt. When the Allies reach Germany, they discover that it's a race against the Russians to find over 1,000 caches tucked away mainly in the southern part of the country. Whereas the Allies are working to return the recovered art to its rightful owners, the Russians-- who have suffered horrendously at the hands of the Nazis-- will keep everything they find as war reparations.
I found this book to be fascinating on so many counts: the fact that people actually recognized the need to save their culture, the men and women of the MFAA who worked so hard under extreme circumstances (many of whom never spoke of what they did once the war was over), and yet more examples of Nazi rapaciousness. This is a topic that has importance today. Hundreds of thousands of works of art are still missing, and any online news source will provide recent stories of artwork stolen by the Nazis being uncovered. Edsel's book is fascinating reading for anyone interested in World War II or in art, and I fully intend to read more.
R E K. (bigstone) - , reviewed The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves, and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History on + 1453 more book reviews
As the Nazis roared across Europe, they raided and confiscated artwork from homes and museums alike, storing it away in hidden places. In this book a group of soldiers search many areas for the hidden art treasures. Their story is one of persistence and intrigue as they search for the lost representing decades of the culture of Europe.
Harry Ettlinger's bar mitzvah in the Karlsruhe synagogue was its last as the Nazi destroyed it days later during Kritallnact. Harry and his family escape from Germany and he becomes becomes one many monuments men determined to protect culturally important monuments. Tracing the Nazii trails, they discovered thousands upon thousands of the disappeared art pieces. For example, they found at one site 40,000 paintings, sculptures and photographs, along with china, silver, clocks, church relics and altars, as well as complete stained glass windows.
This is a fascinating tale about dedicated group men determined to find and return what they could to the original owners and sites. Wonderful read. Check it out for yourself.
Harry Ettlinger's bar mitzvah in the Karlsruhe synagogue was its last as the Nazi destroyed it days later during Kritallnact. Harry and his family escape from Germany and he becomes becomes one many monuments men determined to protect culturally important monuments. Tracing the Nazii trails, they discovered thousands upon thousands of the disappeared art pieces. For example, they found at one site 40,000 paintings, sculptures and photographs, along with china, silver, clocks, church relics and altars, as well as complete stained glass windows.
This is a fascinating tale about dedicated group men determined to find and return what they could to the original owners and sites. Wonderful read. Check it out for yourself.
Martha S. reviewed The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves, and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History on + 4 more book reviews
This is an amazing story, well worth reading even though all the details can't be absorbed. Read this book if you want to see how western nations are "exceptional." Set in WWII, it is the story of how a small team of allied soldiers help repatriate looted works of art (statues, paintings, furniture, relics). The author documents as best he can the true story.
Thomas F. (hardtack) -
If you enjoyed the movie, you must really read the book. The book is so much more interesting than the movie the movie can't even be compared to the book.
Speaking of which, one of the things I found funny in the movie was when John Goodman seem to drive all over France looking for a doctor to help his wounded friend. Yet the friend was wounded during an attack by an American unit against a German unit. Duh! Didn't Goodman's character know American units have medics with the platoons and doctors at the battalion level?
Of course, there were a dozens of other things Hollywood threw in to make the movie 'exciting,' but the truth was exciting enough as related in the book.
Speaking of which, one of the things I found funny in the movie was when John Goodman seem to drive all over France looking for a doctor to help his wounded friend. Yet the friend was wounded during an attack by an American unit against a German unit. Duh! Didn't Goodman's character know American units have medics with the platoons and doctors at the battalion level?
Of course, there were a dozens of other things Hollywood threw in to make the movie 'exciting,' but the truth was exciting enough as related in the book.
Chris B. reviewed The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves, and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History on + 5 more book reviews
Great read. Much better (as expected) than the movie. I've always been a fan of Rose Valland. Nice to read more of the details.
Ben S. reviewed The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves, and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History on + 12 more book reviews
A little more art and a little less war/history than I hoped for. Probably the second book I've ever ready where I like the movie better.
