Description
Saving Italy is a gripping historical account that transports readers to World War II, where the Nazi occupation of Italy threatened to eradicate mankind's greatest cultural treasures. This fascinating narrative unveils how two unlikely American heroes, artist Deane Keller and scholar Fred Hartt, were tasked with protecting priceless art from the clutches of the Nazi regime. With meticulous research, the book chronicles the thrilling journey as they race against time to locate and safeguard masterpieces by Michelangelo, Caravaggio, Titian, and Botticelli, amidst the backdrop of military conflict and political machinations. Readers will explore the dramatic events leading up to the Allied invasion in 1944, witnessing how, in the face of adversity, art and culture became symbols of resilience. From the near destruction of The Last Supper in Milan to clandestine negotiations with Nazi leaders, Saving Italy captures an unforgettable story of heroism, art preservation, and the rare intersections of history. Whether you're an art lover, history buff, or simply looking for an enthralling read, this book is an essential addition to your collection, celebrating the enduring power of culture in the face of tyranny. Shipping for this item is free; please allow up to 6 weeks for delivery. Once your order is placed, it cannot be cancelled. Condition: BRAND NEW | ISBN: 9780393348804 | Year: 2014 | Publisher: W W Norton & Company | Pages: 496.
Note: Shipping for this item is free. Please allow up to 6 weeks for delivery. Once your order is placed, it cannot be cancelled.
Condition: BRAND NEW
ISBN: 9780393348804
Year: 2014
Publisher: W W Norton & Company
Pages: 496
Description:
When Hitler's armies occupied Italy in 1943, they also seized control of mankind's greatest cultural treasures. As they had done throughout Europe, the Nazis could now plunder the masterpieces of the Renaissance, the treasures of the Vatican, and the antiquities of the Roman Empire.
On the eve of the Allied invasion, General Dwight Eisenhower empowered a new kind of soldier to protect these historic riches. In May 1944 two unlikely American heroes”artist Deane Keller and scholar Fred Hartt”embarked from Naples on the treasure hunt of a lifetime, tracking billions of dollars of missing art, including works by Michelangelo, Donatello, Titian, Caravaggio, and Botticelli. With the German army retreating up the Italian peninsula, orders came from the highest levels of the Nazi government to transport truckloads of art north across the border into the Reich. Standing in the way was General Karl Wolff, a top-level Nazi officer. As German forces blew up the magnificent bridges of Florence, General Wolff commandeered the great collections of the Uffizi Gallery and Pitti Palace, later risking his life to negotiate a secret Nazi surrender with American spymaster Allen Dulles.
Brilliantly researched and vividly written, the New York Times bestselling Saving Italy brings readers from Milan and the near destruction of The Last Supper to the inner sanctum of the Vatican and behind closed doors with the preeminent Allied and Axis leaders: Roosevelt, Eisenhower, and Churchill; Hitler, G?ring, and Himmler.
An unforgettable story of epic thievery and political intrigue, Saving Italy is a testament to heroism on behalf of art, cultu
Note: Shipping for this item is free. Please allow up to 6 weeks for delivery. Once your order is placed, it cannot be cancelled.
Condition: BRAND NEW
ISBN: 9780393348804
Year: 2014
Publisher: W W Norton & Company
Pages: 496
Description:
When Hitler's armies occupied Italy in 1943, they also seized control of mankind's greatest cultural treasures. As they had done throughout Europe, the Nazis could now plunder the masterpieces of the Renaissance, the treasures of the Vatican, and the antiquities of the Roman Empire.
On the eve of the Allied invasion, General Dwight Eisenhower empowered a new kind of soldier to protect these historic riches. In May 1944 two unlikely American heroes”artist Deane Keller and scholar Fred Hartt”embarked from Naples on the treasure hunt of a lifetime, tracking billions of dollars of missing art, including works by Michelangelo, Donatello, Titian, Caravaggio, and Botticelli. With the German army retreating up the Italian peninsula, orders came from the highest levels of the Nazi government to transport truckloads of art north across the border into the Reich. Standing in the way was General Karl Wolff, a top-level Nazi officer. As German forces blew up the magnificent bridges of Florence, General Wolff commandeered the great collections of the Uffizi Gallery and Pitti Palace, later risking his life to negotiate a secret Nazi surrender with American spymaster Allen Dulles.
Brilliantly researched and vividly written, the New York Times bestselling Saving Italy brings readers from Milan and the near destruction of The Last Supper to the inner sanctum of the Vatican and behind closed doors with the preeminent Allied and Axis leaders: Roosevelt, Eisenhower, and Churchill; Hitler, G?ring, and Himmler.
An unforgettable story of epic thievery and political intrigue, Saving Italy is a testament to heroism on behalf of art, cultu