Hull, during a slide presentation that some of historys greatest works of art are in jeopardy. Bill murray and john balaban might have smaller parts, but theyre fantastic as treasure hunters, and deserve their own spinoff. A great complement to the book, the monuments men by robert edsel, the venus fixers reveals how in the conflagration and savagery of the second world war, the americans and the british endeavored to salvage damaged works of art, architecture, and archives. The 2014 movie stars george clooney, matt damon, cate blanchette, bill murray, john goodman, among others. From the start, i thought the story of the monuments men. Edsels similarly titled book that tells the story of the monuments, fine arts, and archives program that the allies carried out during. Allied heroes, nazi thieves, and the greatest treasure hunt in history by robert with. 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. Edsels masterful book the monuments men shares their story, in a tale that is part history, part war story and part treasure hunt. Robert edsel in his non fiction book, the monuments men allied heroes, nazi thieves and the greatest treasure hunt in history, describes the beginning of world war ii and how the monuments men made their presence in europe to preserve the culture of the countries the army was passing through or fighting in. Monuments men characters inspired by real people the. Allied heroes, nazi thieves, and the greatest treasure hunt in history. The fuehrer had begun cataloguing the art he planned to collect.
The race to rescue a nations treasures from the nazis, which tells the dramatic story of the monuments men in italy during the allied invasion of world war ii. Dallas the characters in the new george clooney film the monuments men were inspired by real people who worked to save cultural treasures across europe during world war ii. Aug 29, 2018 initially, the monuments men were tasked with assisting combat troops in protecting churches, museums and cultural artifacts from damage in allied attacks. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of the monuments men by bret witter and robert m. Edsel this study guide consists of approximately 34 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of the monuments men. Directed by george clooney, the film is based on robert m. In the war of troy, the greeks having sacked some of the neighbouring towns, and taken from thence two beautiful captives, chryseis and briseis, allotted the first to agamemnon, and the last to achilles. I will definitely recommend this book to history, non fiction lovers. Allied heroes, nazi thieves, and the greatest treasure hunt in history edsel, robert m. Oscars best picture winners best picture winners golden globes emmys san diego comiccon new york comiccon sundance film festival toronto intl film.
Settling in florence seeing some of the great works, he wondered how all of the monuments and art treasures survived the devastation of world war ii. 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. The cast of characters includes hitler and goering, gertrude stein and marc chagallnot to mention works by artists from leonardo da vinci to pablo picasso. Allied heroes, nazi thieves, and the greatest treasure hunt in history is a nonfiction book by robert m. Its a dream come true, says edsel, whos a consultant on the monuments men movie, which is scheduled to be released dec. The book uses key battles as the backdrop to the story of men who risked their lives saving what gen.
Winner of the national book critics circle award the real story behind the major motion picture the monuments men. The army is looking for a few good art experts the new. The announcement monday, in the smithsonians archives of american art housing some records of the monuments men, is meant to recall the 345 people mostly men. Monuments, fine arts, and archives program wikipedia. The monuments men true story vs movie george stout, james. The monuments men monuments, fine arts, and archives were a part of the allied armies. Nicholass landmark book on which the film is based. Robert edsels the greatest treasure hunt in history is a book for young adults and older children focusing on a group of eleven men and one woman who were part of the monuments men, a group of soldiers from american and great britain whose goal was to preserve the art treasures of western europe during world war ii. The monuments men foundation is a 501c3 notforprofit organization created to raise worldwide awareness about the service of the monuments men and women, honor them for their achievements, and complete their unfinished mission of returning missing art to the rightful owners. The book is chronological, and the author cleverly weaves in historical anecdotes.
Bret witter is a book editor and professional writer. It is a story of a world war ii platoon made up entirely of 7 art experts, who president roosevelt assigned to be in charge of rescuing the countless priceless pieces of art stolen by the nazis, and return them to. Were considering expanding this synopsis into a fulllength study guide to deepen your comprehension of the book and why its important. Some priests hurriedly disassemble panels of a major piece of artwork in a church and attempt to spirit them away before they are overrun by the nazis.
If you havent gotten the drift from all the movie ads, here are the basics. The monuments men were a group of approximately 345 men and women from thirteen nations who comprised the monuments, fine arts, and archives section during world war ii. War did not come like a hurricane, rorimer realized, destroying everything in its path. Edsel with bret witter, explores the efforts soldiers and civilians made to protect art, heritage, and treasures from disappearing during wwii. This summary of the monuments men includes a complete plot overview spoilers included. Would you be willing to try another one of michael searss performances. During the ensuing years, he devoted himself to finding the answer. Allied heroes, nazi thieves and the greatest treasure hunt in history, and the new book saving italy. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. A post viewing analysis the story of the monuments men has been called the greatest treasure hunt in history. 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 robert m.
The monuments men by robert edsel a 30minute chapterby. The true story of the monuments men history smithsonian. Plot the monuments men is based on the true story of the biggest art theft in the history. Edsels backstories of the 10 monuments men covered in the tale help breathe life into these scholarlyand highly driven men. Get the knowledge you need in order to pass your classes and more.
Initially, the monuments men were tasked with assisting combat troops in protecting churches, museums and cultural artifacts from damage in. There are fights that you may lose without losing your honor. Chryses, the father of chryseis, and priest of apollo, comes to th. Watch the monuments men movie trailer for the film starring george clooney, matt damon, cate blanchett and john goodman. The monuments men was adapted into a film starring george clooney, matt damon, bill murray, and cate blanchett. Feb 02, 2014 edsel, who formed the monuments men foundation while writing his book so he could collect information about the recovery of world war ii art, said he and the filmmakers hope the movie will. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Its mission focuses on restitution of missing art, and education and preservation of these heroes legacy. The true story behind the monuments men mens journal. This detailed literature summary also contains topics for discussion on the monuments men by robert m. The monuments men quotes, movie quotes movie quotes. 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. 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. Summary at the same time adolf hitler was attempting to take over the.
An unlikely world war ii platoon has been tasked by fdr with going into germany to rescue artistic masterpieces from nazi thieves and returning them to their rightful owners. The real story behind the monuments men goes far deeper than the blockbuster movie by priscilla frank when you think monuments men, we wouldnt be surprised if the first thing that comes to mind is george clooney looking predictably suave in a military uniform. Author soldiers on to get story of wwiis monuments men. The film, a comedydrama which stars george clooney and cate blanchett, is based on robert edsel s book monuments men. The monuments men allied heroes nazi thieves and greatest. The picture bookof the monuments men by edsel is on my list. 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. Edsel, with bret witter, takes the reader into the world war ii war theater through the stories of ten of the brave men and women, the monuments men, who rescued art that had been stolen by the nazis in europe. 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. 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. Allied heroes, nazi thieves and the greatest treasure hunt in history in what is perhaps the last major. The film stars an ensemble cast including clooney, matt damon, bill murray, john goodman, jean dujardin, bob balaban, hugh bonneville, and cate blanchett. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of paradise lost and what it means.
Allied heroes, nazi thieves, and the greatest treasure hunt in history pdf is enough to raise the goose bumps alone. 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. 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. 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. Come browse our large digital warehouse of free sample essays.
The reallife story behind the monuments men history. Maybe but he didnt work very hard on this performance. In the process, he commissioned major research that has resulted in this book. 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. Robert edsel, in his book the monuments men, tells the story of the greatest treasure hunt in history and the race to sa the monuments men is set during world war ii, but primarily focuses on the monuments men and their activities from june 1944 to may 1945 edsel xv. Allied heroes, nazi thieves, and the greatest treasure.
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. A squad is sent to germany during world war ii to save works of art from the nazis, who are destroying everything as the reich is falling apart. To cherish the culture of your enemy, to risk your life and the life of other men to save it, to give it all back to them as soon as the battle was won it was unheard of, but that was exactly what walker hancock and the other monuments men intended to do. We often like to choose actors for our books future movies, but monuments men is already set to debut in 2014 view.
Allied heroes, nazi thieves and the greatest treasure hunt in history by robert m. The monuments men, officially called the monuments, fine arts, and archives section mfaa, were a small group of men and women tasked with the location, protection, conservation, and repatriation of the art, architecture, and material culture of european nations during and after world war ii. Allied heroes, nazi thieves and the greatest treasure hunt in history. Nov 29, 2009 the monuments men is a remarkable history of the war in europe. Edsel claims in the monuments men, or were they good men aided by one resourceful, determined french womanwho were simply, in the best sense of the phrase, just doing their jobs. Allied heroes, nazi thieves, and the greatest treasure hunt in history kindle edition by edsel, robert m. Jan 29, 2014 its not only the great works of european art that have gone missing in the 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. The monuments men is going for something different. The film is loosely based on the nonfiction book the monuments men.
We watched the trailer for the monuments men movie, which several delicious reads members went together to see that weekend. 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. It was the responsibility of this group to save as much of the european culture as it could. It came like a tornado, touching down in patches, taking with it one life while leaving the next person unharmed. So with permission from roosevelt, stokes recruits 6 men who are each art experts and they go to europe under the guise of being soldiers to find out where the art that was taken is. More than 350 men and women served as monuments people. Although the war is presented mostly as a backdrop to their energetic detective work, enough information on the struggle is included to keep the quest in context and to remind readers that these unlikely soldiers. At the castle, he found three great halls packed with parcels from the staatsarchiv and marburg town archives.
Mar 07, 2019 robert edsels the greatest treasure hunt in history is a book for young adults and older children focusing on a group of eleven men and one woman who were part of the monuments men, a group of soldiers from american and great britain whose goal was to preserve the art treasures of western europe during world war ii. When the assistant museum curator, claire simone trusts james granger enough to give. The monuments, fine arts, and archives program is the subject of the 2014 sony pictures and 20th century fox film the monuments men. Stronger by jeff bauman with bret witter the boston globe. In one mine, the monuments men find over 16,000 pieces of art. Bauman worked on the book with penforhire bret witter the coauthor behind numerous bestsellers, including the monuments men, which was recently turned into a movie. Allied heroes, nazi thieves, and the greatest treasure hunt in history 2009, a work of military nonfiction by robert m. As the most destructive war in history ravaged europe, many of the worlds most cherished cultural objects were in harms way. The real story behind the monuments men goes far deeper. Edsel is the author of the nonfiction books, rescuing da vinci and the monuments men. The monuments men had the credentials and the passion for art to risk their lives for this cause. With the art trapped behind enemy lines, and with the german army under orders to destroy everything as the reich fell, how could they possibly succeed. 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.
Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the monuments men. The monuments men s ability to improvise in the field while tracking down, documenting, and protecting works of art faced special challenges once allied armies entered germany, where many of the third reichs treasures had been stored deep in mines, sometimes boobytrapped with explosives. Allied heroes, nazi thieves, and the greatest treasure hunt in history by robert m. The monuments men is a 2014 war film directed by george clooney, and written and produced by clooney and grant heslov. Allied heroes, nazi thieves, and the greatest treasure hunt in. The book on which it is loosely based, the monuments men. For readers of the monuments men and the hare with amber eyes, the story of the nazis systematic pillaging of europes libraries, and the small team of heroic librarians now working to return the stolen books to their rightful owners while the nazi party was being condemned by much of the world for burning books, they were already hard at work perpetrating an even greater literary crime. 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. During world war ii, frank stokes learns that hitler is stealing all of the great works of art for his personal museum. George clooneys drama about a team of misfits at war with nazi art thieves fails to strike the right tone. Monuments men foundation i cultural heritage preservation i home.