Customer Reviews

Rescuing Da Vinci: Hitler and the Nazis Stole Europe's Great Art - America and Her Allies Recovered It

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It's hard to imagine why this EXTRAORDINARY story about EXTRAORDINARY men (and women) is just now being revealed to a mass audience. As a civilization, we owe the salvation of our culture to the efforts of the heroes in "Rescuing Da Vinci." HATS OFF TOO to Mr. Edsel for his vision of putting forth the greatest "untold" story of WWII in a brilliantly assembled book. It is the PERFECT gift for members of the "Greatest Generation," art collectors, war buffs, museum buffs or any thinker. The breathtaking pictures make it a superb gift for photographers, designers, architects and the like. Plus, I've discovered it's a wonderful "conversation piece" for my coffee table!

You could be forgiven for dismissing this book, if you only went by titles, as just another book that is cashing in on the Da Vinci myth in concert with a patriotic nostalgia for the Second World War as a time of moral absolutes. You would be wrong. The photographs are superb, many published for the first time, and the accompanying text is precise,jargon free and direct. Robert Edsel may, as he says, be obsessed with the subject but his approach is measured and clear. I am an English fine art academic and heard of this book via a small article in an English newspaper and was sufficiently intrigued to order the book from Amazon in the US (it is not available in Great Britain). I have recommended it to many of my friends (not something to do lightly) as it compliments and extends, visually, much of the existing literature on the subject of art theft.

An effective pictorial survey of the cultural crimes waged by Germany during World War II.

That much plundered European art was found, protected and returned to rightful owners by the U.S. military in these difficult days is a bright star in our nation's history. Mr. Edsel has delivered a fitting tribute to the many U.S. and British art experts, and others, who volunteered to do what was possible to make aright the unpardonable cultural crimes committed by the Nazis.

I thought I knew about every World War II story. This one blows me away. On page 129, there is a select list of Cultural Institutions that were lead by Monuments Men following the war, and it includes everything from the National Gallery and the Met, to the Library of Congress. These men were responsible not only for restoring monuments and treasures, but also for influencing art and culture as we know it.

So much good information has been written about WWII, or so I thought. I was wrong. In 'Rescuing Da Vinci: Hitler and the Nazis Stole Europe's Great Art - America and Her Allies Recovered It' by Robert M. Edsel, readers of history and good storytelling alike will become familiar with the courageous and talented individuals who were responsible for saving so many historical artifacts in risk during WWII. Insightful, introspective, educational, and easy to read, Edsel and team did a masterful job in telling a story about WWII that apparently was forgotten. The world has much to thank these men and women who saved precise paintings, sculptures, etc. that are now seen across the globe. A fascinating book.

Rescuing Da Vinci is an interesting look into the history of some of the most loved art works of our time. After reading the stories, one gains a new appreciation for the art that we are able to view today; thanks to a very brave team of rescuers.
There has not been much focus in the past on this side of the war and Hitler's cruel obsession to gain and destroy these works.
Robert M. Edsel has did a superb job combining pictures and stories to help us glance back into our past.

We are all fortunate that Robert Edsel decided that this book needed to be written and had the resources to make it happen in a fashion that is so excellent.

I have found that this remarkable story of WWII, art, mystery and intrigue (and the incredible photos that accompany it) make a wonderful gift for anyone. "Rescuing Da Vinci" is sitting on my living room coffee table and invariably becomes the topic of conversation with every guest in my home. Hats off to Mr. Edsel for delivering such a magnificent untold story!

I read this book after seeing the review in the NY Times. The story is so compelling, and the pictures are beautiful. I highly recommend it!

This is one of the most fascinating books i have ever read. The period images are amazing, just the photo of italian masons bricking up Michaelangelo's iconic David is worth the purchase. After reading this book I was stunned that so few art treasures were destroyed. I had no idea that much of the treasures at the National Gallery of Art in D.C. was stored at Biltmore because of its remote setting. I was also blown away to see the images of workman removing winged victory from the Louvre, I just had no idea all of this went on leading up to the war and during the war. The German pillaging of the great European art treasures is disgusting of course, especially the art they looted from the weathy Jewry like the Rothchilds and others, some of which even to this day are trying to get back art work that is rightly theirs. I highly recommend this great book to anyone interested in art, history, art history, or frankly has an inquisive mind. I want to thank the authors for a job well done.