The sensational story of a cache of masterpieces not seen since they vanished during the Nazi terror—a bizarre tale of a father and aged son, of secret deals, treachery and the search for truth.
The world was stunned when eighty-year old Cornelius Gurlitt became an international media superstar in November 2013 on the discovery of over 1,400 artworks in his 1,076 square-foot Munich apartment, valued at around $1.35 billion. Gurlitt became known as a man who never was - he didn't have a bank account, never paid tax, never received social security. He simply did not exist. He had been hard-wired into a life of shadows and secrecy by his own father long before he had inherited his art collection built on the spoliation of museums and Jews during Hitler's Third Reich. The ensuing media frenzy unleashed international calls for restitution, unsettled international relations, and rocked the art world.
Susan Ronald reveals in this stranger-than-fiction-tale how Hildebrand Gurlitt succeeded in looting in the name of the Third Reich, duping the Monuments Men and the Nazis alike. As an "official dealer" for Hitler and Goebbels, Hildebrand Gurlitt became one of the Third Reich's most prolific art looters. Yet he stole from Hitler too, allegedly to save modern art. Hitler's Art Thief is the untold story of Hildebrand Gurlitt, who stole more than art-he stole lives, too.
Hitler's Art Thief
Hildebrand Gurlitt, the Nazis, and the Looting of Europe's Treasures
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Creators
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Publisher
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Release date
September 22, 2015 -
Formats
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Kindle Book
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OverDrive Read
- ISBN: 9781466866829
- File size: 6056 KB
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EPUB ebook
- ISBN: 9781466866829
- File size: 7100 KB
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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September 1, 2015
In 2013, more than 1,400 pieces of art were discovered in the modest Munich apartment of 80-year-old Cornelius Gurlitt, son of Hitler's "art dealer" Hildebrand Gurlitt. The art was valued at more than $1.35 billion, but to the reclusive Cornelius, they weren't just paintings--they were "friends." For victims of the greatest art heist in history, however, they were stolen tokens of the Third Reich. Ronald (The Pirate Queen) provides a remarkably comprehensive telling of the Nazi's massive looting of treasured artworks and the pivotal role the Gurlitts played. Although considered Hitler's art dealer, Hildebrand is best described in the book's title. Ronald's narrative follows Hildebrand from student to thief and eventually finds its end in Cornelius's mysterious apartment. VERDICT There are countless works related to Nazi Germany, but Ronald's account provides an additional layer of knowledge that's worth adding to your collection. Readers will gain a larger understanding of how art threads through society, what it means when those threads are unraveled, and the tragic effects of having your culture stolen and repurposed. They aren't just paintings, indeed. [See Prepub Alert, 4/20/15.]--Erin Entrada Kelly, Philadelphia
Copyright 2015 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
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September 15, 2015
The subtitle sounds like the ingredients of a juicy thriller, but Ronald (Heretic Queen, 2012) instead serves up a true tale of greed, corruption, and ill-gotten works of art. Set against a background of German history from just before WWI until just after WWII, this is the story of a man who not only stole art works for the Nazis but stole from them, as well. The Gurlitts were fans of the avantgarde, whose art was considered degenerate by Hitler and his minions. When such works were confiscated, they were usually destroyed. But when Hildebrand Gurlitt was involved, he saved them and built an impressive collection of his own. This is the backstory to the 2013 discovery of more than 1,400 looted artworks in a Munich apartment owned by Hurlitt's son, Cornelius. Art and history buffs alike will enjoy this compelling narrative and appreciate the impeccable research behind it.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)
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