Customer Reviews

Mona Lisa in Camelot: How Jacqueline Kennedy and Da Vinci's Masterpiece Charmed and Captivated a Nation

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4 star:		(4)
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This was a very engrossing account of how the Mona Lisa made it to the United States for public viewing during Camelot. The details of Jacqueline Kennedy's plan and the implementation of that plan were extremely interesting as I was a child of the sixties (but sadly did not live near D.C. to view the Mona Lisa). I was also fascinated with the First Lady's mutually adoring relationship with the French cultural minister, Andre Malraux, and her relationship with the National Gallery of Art Director, John Walker. The personality elements of these two men were almost as much fun as reading about how the First Lady managed to produce a marvelous tour guide/booklet for the public visitors to the White House. The idea of which, was hatched in 1941 when she visited the White House as a citizen and took that standard tour with her mother and sister. The real heroine of the book, however, was Mona Lisa, who even today, remains a mysterious enchantress.

What an enchanting and thoroughly fascinating book! Ms. Davis' richly evocative, cinematic detail transports the reader, as if by time machine, to a moment in America's history when grace and diplomacy were valued above ignorance and bravado. As President Kennedy observed, "The United States will be judged - and its place in history ultimately assessed - not alone by its military or economic power, but by the quality of its civilization." This shimmering little jewel of a book is an inspiring reminder of the best in ours. It will go out to everyone on my holiday gift list!

What a terrific book about an incident that most people might not remember happening. I sped through the book in 2 sittings - utterly fascinating and a page-turner.

Kudos to the author for bringing this part of "Camelot" to its historical importance.

A zig-zagging narrative and some AWOL commas do not dissipate the magic of Margaret Leslie Davis's narrative of the Mona Lisa's visit to the United States in 1963. A captivating cast of characters helped to solicit the permission of France, protect Mona Lisa during her voyage across the icy Atlantic and freezing Northeastern roads, and keep her safe during her smash-hit stays at the National Gallery in Washington and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

I have to wonder if America will ever again allow an aesthete and a Francophile such as Jacqueline Kennedy to be our First Lady. In an era where the media scolds coarseness with one hand and rewards it with publicity with the other, where true beauty is lost in the shuffle, where politicians see arts programs as a economic drain and not the soul of a society, is there room for a Mona Lisa?

After the exhibit, President Kennedy spoke these words at Amherst College: "I look forward to an America which will reward achievements in the arts as we reward achievements in business or statecraft....I look forward to an America which commands respect throughout the world not only for its strength but for its civilization as well." We came so close in the Camelot years, but have forgotten this wisdom since then. But it is not too late for an American Renaissance.

I own over 620 books about the Kennedy family, but I actually learned some new information with this book. It was easy-to-read, but extremely informative. It kept my attention. If you are interested in art, or in the Kennedy Camelot years, you must read this book.

I found the story of the Mona Lisa crossing the Atlantic to visit the United States great entertainment. What a great place this would be if we concentrated more on sharing than destroying our cultural differences and treasurers. Jackie could be very persuasive and determind when she set her mind to a project. I did not realize that the Mona Lisa was so small until I read this book. An education and a peak into the art world with a little glamour on the side.

I wanted to read this book as I was a little girl when I watched this family and the sad times they endured. My bookclub at my suggestion is reading this book and we haven't met yet but it was a insight to a different side of Jackie that I did not know and history about a painting and two countries I am interested in. The author did detailed versions of the personalities which I appreciated as it was history that I would not have know. Very interesting and I would recommend this book.

I have always admired First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy and how she brought the world into the White House. She recognized the power and importance of the executive mansion and what it meant to the American people. It was with this same determination and passion that she allowed the citizens of the United States access to this great masterpiece. I adored this story and highly recommend it.

Mona Lisa in Camelot, how Jacqueline Kennedy and Da Vinci's Masterpiece Charmed and Captivated a Nation was such a lovely read. I felt such a sense of ceremony and culture, as though I was having tea with the First Lady herself.
Margaret Leslie Davis has very skillfully woven the details of the Mona Lisa exhibition into a vivid and rich account of the First Lady, her life and interactions preceding, during and following the display of the priceless work of art.
The documents included in this marvellous book are very telling and gave me a glimpse of the inner workings of Jacqueline Kennedy's brilliant mind.
The incredible amount of manoeuvring, urging and timely-choreography required of those involved in this process was truly impressive.
It amazes me, even though I am a definite art enthusiast, just how much this particular painting by Leonardo Da Vinci, has affected the people of America, France and many other places across the globe.
This is a very detailed read, certainly not a book that you can rush through; it had a gentle pace which worked wonderfully.
This true story touches briefly on the assignation of John F. Kennedy (JFK) and how it too, stirred the emotions of countless peoples around the world.
If you appreciate art and have any interest in the Kennedy's, this book is an absolute must-have!

(9 out of 10 Diamonds) - Loved it!

© 2008-2009 Bobbie Crawford-McCoy (Book Reviews By Bobbie).
All rights reserved.

Definitely loved this book! The story is compelling (Malraux, the Kennedy family, the Mona Lisa, the Louvre and the Secret Service - what more could you ask for?!) and the author does a fantastic job portraying each character and taking us through the intrigue of it all. I highly recommend reading this one and checking out some of the other Margaret Leslie Davis books. She has a real knack for bringing history to life!