From the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller The Monuments Men"An astonishing account of a little-known American effort to save Italyshellip;art during World War II."mdash;Tom BrokawWhen Hitlerrsquo;s armies occupied Italy in 1943; they also seized control of mankindrsquo;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 heroesmdash;artist Deane Keller and scholar Fred Harttmdash;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; Gouml;ring; 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.
#760329 in eBooks 2012-12-07 2012-12-07File Name: B00AN8LDLY
Review
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful. Great for teachers and studentsBy DerekI purchased this book and a few other titles while developing the curriculum for a new technical theatre class at my school; and it has been one of the most helpful.This book breaks down the design process; elements; and principles in an easy-to-understand way. It also goes into how the design process applies to different areas of stagecraft (scenic; costuming; and lighting). This book was also a treasure trove of exercises. At the end of each chapter there were a few exercises pinpointing developing the skills and ideas explored. As a teacher; I got a lot from these exercises; and I will be using and adapting several of them to help my students apply these design concepts.This book doesnt delve into the nitty gritty techniques of stagecraft (building flats and platforms; scenic painting techniques; focusing lights; etc.); because its intended focus is primarily design. So; if youre a beginner who is looking for something that will tell you how to build something; youll need a different book. But this one is great for teaching you how to use those skills effectively to design for a production.Definitely keeping this book on my shelf for reference!5 of 5 people found the following review helpful. Theatre Excellence!By CustomerThe Fundamentals of Theatrical Design by Karen Brewster and Melissa Shafer is a comprehensive; extremely informative and entertaining book about all elements of Theatre Design. There is no aspect of Theatre Design not touched on and illuminated here. Brewster and Shafer have divided the book into four sections: 1) The Preliminary Design Process; 2) Understanding The Visual Components of Theatrical Design; 3)The Artistic and Practical Processes of Tehatrical Design; 4)Epilogue-Building A Career in Theatre Design. This is essential reading for anyone; professional or amateur who wants to succeed in Theatrical Design of any kind. Plus; actors; directors and producers will also gain insight from this execptional book. I give it 5 BIG GOLD STARS. Buy it; read it - succeed!3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Tremendous resource for the classroomBy Elliot HudsonTHis book is well laid out; thoughtful; insightful and a true joy to read. It brings theatrical design to a level understandable by students and meaningful to professionals. The Kindle edition allows the reader to quickly move through the material from an interactive table of contents. I strongly recommend this book to all high school theatre teachers and directors!