From the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller The Monuments Men "An astonishing account of a little-known American effort to save Italy's…art during World War II."―Tom Brokaw 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; Göring; and Himmler.An unforgettable story of epic thievery and political intrigue; Saving Italy is a testament to heroism on behalf of art; culture; and history. 61 illustrations; 3 maps
#1284417 in Books Sandra Mackey 2006-07-17 2013-01-23Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.30 x .80 x 5.50l; .63 #File Name: 0393328430320 pagesLebanon A House Divided
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Struggling nationBy Dicky CruyerThis is a must-read for anyone who claims to be interested in or should be informed about Mideast politics--including any future residents of the White House and the the Pentagon. Mackay covers the early and recent history of Lebanon and elegantly outlines the challenges the tiny nation has faced since it won back its independence from France after World War 2. Lebanon has to deal with all the problems of the Middle East squeezed into its 4053 square miles of territory. And it has very few friends: Israel scorns it because; in its view; the strong presence of Shi'ites has created a de facto Hezbollah regime [both the U.S. and Israel have labelled the Hezbollah a terrorist organization]; Syria; now embroiled in a civil war; has a long history of intervention in the country's affairs; while the Syrian-backed Sunni Muslims play a pivotal role in the nation's affairs.Under Lebanon's rather shaky constitution; the President of the country has to be a Christian Maronite [the Maronites are orthodox Christians] while the Prime Minister has to be a Sunni and the Speaker of Parliament a Shi'ite. And then there's a very active and influential faction called the Druze; an offshoot of Islam with a bit of Gnosticism thrown in.So Lebanon may have few friends [the U.S. and other western powers have largely ignored the minor Mideast player since terrorists blew up the U.S. embassy in Beirut as well as a big U.S. army barracks for GIs who were than trying to keep the peace among the various warring factions.] Then came the long civil war between the Shias and the Shi'ites and the Christians; a 15-year conflict that devastated Beirut; once called the Paris of the East. Post civil war construction was hampered by several notable assassinations of the Lebanese leadership [including a prime minister]Now the little country is trying once again to pull itself up with its bootstraps. Beirut still shows the scars of a massive bombing raid on the capital by Israel in 1986.If Lebanon's story sounds complicated; it is. Sandra Mackay's book provides an excellent guide to understanding the small and ever-struggling Mediterranean nation-state.7 of 8 people found the following review helpful. Beyond BiasBy D. BercowI purchased this book in hopes of getting a back ground to the current political situation in Libya. What one actually gets is not history but an extremely one sided story with little supporting data.From the out set of this book the authors views are clear the Lebanese Christians are blood thirsty; powerful; moneyed; religious fanatics. The Sunni are described as corupt but little; next to zero mention. The Druze as well are barely mention and the massacres they commited are summed up in a paragraph where as pages are devoted to the Christians. The author reserves all of her sympathy for the neglected Shiite (Hezbollah/Amal) and the freedom seeking Palestinians(PLO).The authors skewed views even come into play when describing foreign intervention. Syria is basically described as trying to keep the peace while a sentence is devoted to the possibility that Assad was responsible for hundreds of political assasinations within Lebanon. Israel as one could already guess is accused of genocide and war crimes with no mention of PLO attacks against Israel. The multi national force instead of being described as peace keepers is described as being a support system for Israel.I am astonished there are so many positive reviews for this book; one can only assume that the vast majority of people are simply uninformed and like a good story with a clear good and evil charater; however sadly in civil war there are just shades of grey.5 of 6 people found the following review helpful. Sour Grapes - I was doubly duped :-(By S.M.Because Lebanon-Death of a Nation and Lebanon-House divided are the same books.The reader is deceived into thinking that House divided is a continuation of Death of a Nation. Unfortunately; after purchasing both books (because of different titles); we found out that they are exactly identical. The claim of "with new introduction" is nothing but a measly page and a half write-up that adds no value to the overall read; but certainly puts more money in Sandra's pocket.Getting over this disappointment; Sandra's book about the war in Lebanon during the 1975-1989 period is a great read. Without judgment or prejudice; she sheds lights on the politics of the "Zuama" their alliances and re-alliances during that period of Lebanon and how all Lebanese have suffered because of them.It will be interesting to see if she will write a true-continuation about the period 1989--2003 and the similarities of those situations with the past.
