The Monuments Men

Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves, and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History

By: Robert M. Edsel, Bret Witter

Narrated by: Jeremy Davidson

Length: 14 hrs and 15 mins

Publisher's summary

Now a major motion film!

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. The Fuehrer had begun cataloging the art he planned to collect as well as the art he would destroy: "degenerate" works he despised.

In a race against time, behind enemy lines, often unarmed, a special force of American and British museum directors, curators, art historians, and others, called the Monuments Men, risked their lives scouring Europe to prevent the destruction of thousands of years of culture.

Focusing on the 11-month period between D-Day and V-E Day, this fascinating account follows six Monuments Men and their impossible mission to save the world's great art from the Nazis.

©2009 Robert M. Edsel (P)2009 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

"The story is both engaging and inspiring. In the midst of a total war, armies systematically sought to mitigate cultural loss." ( Publishers Weekly)

"[Narrator Jeremy Davidson] varies the pacing effectively, based on the nature of the text. He speeds up slightly during exciting action-filled sequences. He reads letters and documents with a flatter tone, making it easy for listeners to discern when the document stops and the author's words resume. He also gives a slight but not intrusive or cartoonish British accent to quotations by Britishers." ( AudioFile)

Been to a Museum? Thank these People!

If you have ever been to or wanted to visit any of the great museums of the world, then you should read this and marvel!

It's a great book, but the real marvel is that we have never heard of this endeavor before. There are many stories of inspiration from WWII, and I think this ranks with the very best of them! It's the story of how we nearly lost most of the great and irreplaceable treasures of Western culture - and why that would have been a tragedy of unthinkable magnitude.

Of course, so many people died too. And, understandably perhaps, that story has been the focus of most books and movies about WWII. This book acknowledges that, but it also asks an important question about the role of art in the identity of nations.

Is any work of art worth a human life? Should military decisions include an attempt to preserve important cultural sites and works of art? These are questions well worth our consideration and "The Monuments Men" offers a terrific argument about why the answer should be "yes"! It was important in the past and should be in the future.

This book is fascinating! These people and their mission make for a "you couldn't make these things up", true and suspenseful story. The narrator does a great job.

I'll never again visit a museum without thinking about this book and the movie made from it. I know the movie didn't get great reviews, but it did bring to light a fantastic and hopeful story. Those who like books about history and/or art will enjoy both the filmed and audio versions.

This is important stuff!

The True Story and the Review of is it worth it

I enjoyed The Monuments Men by Robert M. Edsel. After seeing the film I wanted to know more about what The Monuments Men was about and I found the book and I read it and just found the whole story fascinating . Recently I was speaking with a friend about WW2 and the topic of the Monuments Men came up and it made me want to read the book again, so I decided to switch things up and get the audiobook.

I enjoyed the experience of listening to the audiobook because it just put an image in my mind and I just let the story flow into my mind and it made for a relaxing afternoon.

Would I recommend this audiobook ? Yes, if you are interested in history especially this story which really for a long time was not widely known about. The whole operation and how it was executed brilliant and worth the listen.

The movie was sizzle, this is the steak.

Would you consider the audio edition of The Monuments Men to be better than the print version?

I havent read the print version.

What other book might you compare The Monuments Men to and why?

It deserves a place in on anyone's WW2 bookshelf.

What does Jeremy Davidson bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Dont know

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

The book is better.

Exciting non- fiction

In spite of some very detailed and technical passages, the book was compelling and often "un-put-down-able". It is a story of persistence and commitment and bravery. And a fine performance. Well worth the time!

Had a hard time staying focused

This is one of the rare books I would definitely recommend reading over listening to. The story itself is fascinating. But listening to it was difficult to stay engaged.

I Love this story!

I love this largly forgotten story of dedication and passion on the part of a few good men and women.

The facts behind the film

This book will take at least two listens to get all the information, places, and people straight. There's so much to digest, but the book tells the truths behind the looting of art during WWII, and those who fought to save it. Thank goodness for them, and for this book, which brings so much to light, albeit too many years later.

forgotten hero's

What made the experience of listening to The Monuments Men the most enjoyable?

imagining the locations and frustration of these men and women

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Monuments Men?

locating the many cashes of items

Interesting history poorly told

This is a passable story of an interesting aspect of WWII. Unfortunately it is a poorly told tale. I feel like is snuck by an editor while they were busy. The attempts at foreshadowing are strained and the attempt to add in imagined dialog is weak. Additionally, the superlatives are hilarious ND unnecessary throughout. This story could have been much better. I recommend you see the movie. I can't image but that it is better.

should have been headlines

It was hard to stick with but the story should be told, over and over, and over.