The monuments men s directive was to preserve cultural properties in war zones, provided that they did not interfere with any military operations. Allied heroes, nazi thieves, and the greatest treasure hunt in history robert m. At the same time adolf hitler was attempting to take over the. Edsels masterful book the monuments men shares their story, in a tale that is part history, part war story and part treasure hunt. The monuments men is a 2010 historical fiction novel by robert m.
Edsel is also the founder and president of the monuments men foundation, a recipient of the national humanities medal, and a trustee at the national wwii museum. Edsel with bret witter, is a remarkable history of the war in europe. The reallife story behind the monuments men history. We watched the trailer for the monuments men movie, which several delicious reads members went together to see that weekend. 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. Allied heroes, nazi thieves, and the greatest treasure hunt in history 2009, a work of military nonfiction by robert m. Focusing on the elevenmonth period between dday and ve day, this fascinating account follows six monuments men and their impossible mission to save the worlds great art from the nazis. Edsel, did a brilliant job solidly taking us along the path of the battles. Allied heroes, nazi thieves and the greatest treasure hunt in history in what is perhaps the last major story about world war. The true story of the monuments men history smithsonian.
Edsel is the founder and president of the monuments men foundation for the preservation of art, which received the 2007 national humanities medal under president george w. In september 2009, edsels second book, the monuments men. Few in number, they heroically went into places where sometimes fighting was still. Allied heroes, nazi thieves and the greatest treasure hunt in history film tiein by m. Initially, the monuments men were tasked with assisting combat troops in protecting churches, museums and cultural artifacts from damage in allied attacks. Monuments men foundation i cultural heritage preservation. The first edition of the novel was published in august 20th 2009, and was written by robert m. Edsels book, the film whittles the monuments men story down to a handful of ideal types, including stokes, whos based on george leslie. Robert morse edsel born december 28, 1956 is an american businessman and author. Allied heroes, nazi thieves, and the greatest treasure hunt in history is a nonfiction book by robert m.
Allied heroes, nazi thieves and the greatest treasure hunt in history, and the new book saving italy. At what points did these two directives conflict with each other, and how was that handled. Allied heroes, nazi thieves, and the greatest treasure hunt in history by robert m. Though the movie isnt as historically accurate as the book they even gave the main characters different names and many of the events were overdramatized, the overall feel for the book gives a little taste of what went on with the monuments men.
This book tells the true story of a group of allied soldiers whose job it was to protect and rescue historical architecture and art of all forms. The monuments men and the women who wrote the war both tell interesting stories in their own right, and also provide a bonus by describing aspects of the history of world war ii not covered in the mainstream accounts. Allied heroes, nazi thieves, and the greatest treasure hunt in history war did not come like a hurricane, rorimer realized, destroying everything in its path. Initially, the monuments men were tasked with assisting combat troops in protecting churches, museums and cultural artifacts from damage in. Based on the true story of the greatest treasure hunt in history, the monuments men is an action drama focusing on an unlikely world war ii platoon, tasked by fdr with going into germany to rescue artistic masterpieces from nazi thieves and returning them to their rightful owners. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
Despite trying to tell the men that he viewed the nazis as complete frauds and only carried out his duties as an ss officer for the sake of protecting the art, robert posey and lincoln kirstein later discovered that, like in the movie, they had been speaking. His second book, the monuments men, has been translated into more than thirty languages. In 1944, hancock, along with five other monuments men, walked away from their artistic careers and families in order to track down and rescue 6 million pieces of european art. Why you should read awesome story, better than the movie, of how a special force team of american and british art experts and soldiers worked together to save works of art from hitler and the third reich. Its a history book that reads like a rollicking wartime spy noveland the inspiration for the 2014 movie directed by george clooney. Allied heroes, nazi thieves and the greatest treasure hunt in history. As the most destructive war in history ravaged europe, many of the worlds most cherished cultural objects were in harms way. Allied heroes, nazi thieves and the greatest treasure hunt in history by robert m. Allied heroes, nazi thieves, and the greatest treasure hunt in history pdf epub book. This book gives a more in depth understanding of what the monuments men. Clooney and company hunt for treasures in monuments men. Edsel is the author of the nonfiction books, rescuing da vinci and the monuments men. The monuments men were given the huge task of finding these hidden treasures, sometimes in the nick of time before they were destroyed.
The author is a gifted story teller that helps give each monument man or woman a distinct personality and character. I did find the book at borders, and was able to see the art objects that the author describes as well as trace the paths of the monuments men. I wondered if it would capture my attention because i am not normally an avid reader of wwii books. It came like a tornado, touching down in patches, taking with it one life while leaving the next person unharmed. Kirstein and posey were two members of the monuments, fine arts, and archives section of the allies, a small corps of mostly middleaged men and a few women who interrupted careers as historians, architects. The monuments men are an important element of art history of the era. They were the monuments men, a handful of soldiers given a unique assignment. Its mission focuses on restitution of missing art, and education and preservation of these heroes legacy.
The film claims to be based off of the book the monuments men. Allied heroes, nazi thieves, and the greatest treasure hunt in history, tells the rich and exciting story of the men and women who rescued european art from the nazis in world war ii. In one mine, the monuments men find over 16,000 pieces of art. Edsel is the bestselling author of saving italy, the monuments men and rescuing da vinci and coproducer of the awardwinning documentary film the rape of europa. That spurred nicholas to spend a decade researching her 1995 book, the rape of europa, which began the resurrection of their story culminating with the movie, the monuments men, based upon robert. It follows an allied group from the monuments, fine arts, and archives program that is given the task of finding and saving pieces of art and other culturally important items before nazis destroy or steal them, during world war ii. The book uses key battles salerno, naples, dday, saintlo, aachen, the bulge as the. Based on the true story of the greatest treasure hunt in history, the monuments men is an action drama focusing on an unlikely world war ii platoon, tasked by fdr with going into germany to rescue. Allied heroes, nazi thieves, and the greatest treasure hunt in history, by robert edsel. Edsel truly honors the monuments men by preserving their stories in this book.
The monuments men allied heroes, nazi thieves, and the greatest treasure hunt in history book. Bill murray and john balaban might have smaller parts, but theyre fantastic as. He is also the coproducer of an emmynominated documentary film. The book has been translated and published in more than 25 languages. This book is the story of the recovery of that art. Page 1 of 2 questions for february 5, 2014 book discussion of the monument men general information for the art lovers book club all art lovers with figge museum membership or admission to museum are invited to attend a book club which explores the world of art through discussions relating to art history, artists lives, artwork, periods in art, etc. Based on the true story of the greatest treasure hunt in history, the monuments men centers around an unlikely world war ii platoon, tasked with going into germany. However, it does a shockingly bad job of following the book its supposedly based off of. If you have an interest in wwii, as i do, then you would probably enjoy this, but it may be one of those books that is better to read than to listen to. The monuments men book states that the walls were lined with photographs of the eiffel tower, notre dame, versailles, and other famous parisian landmarks. The book follows the team from their inception to the close of their work. The monuments men is the story of a small unit of the allied.
Allied heroes, nazi thieves, and the greatest treasure hunt in history 4. 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. This summary is an ideal guide to take you through the journeys of 18 men who joined the armys littleknown mfaa unit, which protected precious european art from destruction during world war ii. On page 394 of the monuments men book, monuments man harry ettlinger says, my knowledge of the. He has written three nonfiction books rescuing da vinci 2006, monuments men. The monuments men foundation is a 501c3 notforprofit organization created to raise worldwide awareness about the service of the monuments men and women. Allied heroes, nazi thieves, and the greatest treasure hunt in history. The only real parallel between the novel and the movie is that both incarnations of the. Allied heroes, nazi thieves and the greatest treasure hunt in history, a narrative account of the monuments men, was published by center street, a division of hachette book group. The monuments men book the indianapolis public library. They had the support of president roosevelt and general eisenhower, but they had no authority, no vehicles and no gasoline. The monuments men is jaunty, lively and yes, entertaining, and will appeal to teens who are fans of the bigname actors and enjoy an exciting mix of peril and adventure.
The monuments men follows stouts ragtag team as well as the highranking germans trying to outwit them. Book recommendations april 2020 montgomery museum of. Bret witter is a book editor and professional writer. Hollywood later developed the book into a major motion picture. Robert edsel has written four books, published two others, coproduced the emmynominated documentary film the rape of europa, consulted with george clooney on his film production, the monuments men, based on his second book, and has served as the executive producer and onair host of an acclaimed television series, hunting nazi treasure. The monuments men is based on the true story of the greatest treasure hunt in history, the monuments men focuses on an unlikely world war. Based on the book by robert edsel, the monuments men movie was written by, directed and starred academy award winner george clooney, and an awardwinning cast. The previously untold story of a littleknown wwii allied division whose mission was to track down european art and treasures that had been looted by the nazis at hitlers command. The monuments men true story vs movie george stout.