First published 1995
Lynn H. Nicholas chronicles the Third Reich's systematic assault on European cultural treasures and the Allied mission to protect them. Her account spans from Nazi campaigns against so-called degenerate art to Hermann Goering's acquisitions across occupied Paris. The narrative follows desperate efforts to safeguard masterpieces, including the Mona Lisa's dangerous evacuation from Paris and the complex recovery of Italy's stolen artifacts after liberation. Nicholas weaves together meticulous research with dramatic storytelling, featuring key figures like Hitler and Goering alongside artists such as Gertrude Stein and Marc Chagall. The book encompasses works from Leonardo da Vinci to Pablo Picasso, revealing a story of cultural destruction and preservation. Through rigorous scholarship, Nicholas offers readers a comprehensive examination of wartime art theft, rescue operations, and the individuals who risked everything to save Europe's artistic heritage from Nazi plunder.
Genres: history, 20th-century, non-fiction, art-history
Vibes: suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: true-story
Setting: Europe, Paris, Italy
Period: Third Reich, World War II
498 pages · Paperback · Vintage