Edsel is also the founder and president of the monuments men foundation, a recipient of the national humanities medal, and a trustee at the national wwii museum. Edsels similarly titled book that tells the story of the monuments, fine arts, and archives program that the allies carried out during. In his book, the monuments men, on which the film is based, robert edsel, wrote. I saw the movie the second weekend it was released in theaters. He was elected a fellow of kings college in 1928 and lecturer in history in 1930. During world war ii, harbord served in a camouflage unit of the royal engineers. Just as mentioned at the beginning of the book, edsel admitted to acquiring so much information on the monuments men and their efforts that he had to separate the discoveries and activities that took place in italy for another book. The true story of the monuments men history smithsonian. The previously untold story of a littleknown wwii allied division whose mission was to track down european art and treasures that had been looted by the nazis at hitlers command. Aug 08, 2018 this post focuses on british major ronald edmond balfour and is the 11th in the series of posts on the monuments men. Ronald balfour, the reallife monuments man who died trying to save.
Please wash your hands and practise social distancing. The film is based very loosely on the book the monuments men. Ronald edmond balfour, member of the monuments, fine arts, and archives. The monuments men followed allied troops into battle zones. Ronald edmund balfour 19041945 the monuments men foundation roberts commission protection of historical monuments records of the american commission for the protection and salvage of artistic and historic monuments in war areas the roberts commission, 19431946. Robert edsels the greatest treasure hunt in history is a book for young adults and older children focusing on a group of eleven men and one woman who were part of the monuments men, a group of soldiers from american and great britain whose goal was to preserve the art treasures of western europe during world war ii. Jan 18, 2014 george clooneys nazi art theft film attacked for ignoring reallife british war hero. Mar 10, 2014 the movie is based on a book the monuments men by robert m edsel and billed as telling a true story. He excelled at eton and won a scholarship to kings college, cambridge, where he was awarded a double first in history and theology. Today we remember the first monuments man killed during combat. Edsels book focuses on the monuments men and their movements throughout france and germany during world war ii, which will also be the subject of this paper. Balfour, serving with the first canadian army, 21 st army group, in. Remembering the other monuments men and women relatives of ronald balfour are angry that the us film the monuments men overlooks the british historian, one of only two members of the unit killed in the second world war, it seems the true story of an unjustly overlooked champion of cultural history has been edited. Balfour was recruited to become one of the monuments men in 1944 after geoffrey webb, slade professor of fine art at cambridge, was appointed to head the shaef supreme headquarters allied expeditionary force monuments, fine arts and.
Balfour was educated at eton and kings, cambridge, matriculating in 1922. George clooney film on hunt for nazi art thefts attacked. 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. Check out our resources for adapting to these times. British monuments man ronald balfour captured the mission and significance of their task when he wrote, no age lives entirely alone. Ronald edmond balfour was a british medieval historian and a fellow of kings college, cambridge. Relatives of ronald balfour are angry that the monuments men overlooks the british historian, one of only two members of the unit killed in the second world war published. The monuments mens missing character war historical photos the biography of maj. Bret witter in a race against time, a group of american and british museum directors, curators, art historians, and others, called the monuments men, risked their lives scouring europe to prevent the destruction. Monuments men foundation i cultural heritage preservation i home. It is our responsibility to respect and protect these symbols whenever possible. Feb 12, 2014 cecil gould 19181994 a real member of the monuments men. Watch the monuments men movie trailer for the film starring george clooney, matt damon, cate blanchett and john goodman. Adapted from a nonfiction book by robert edsel, the film has been criticized for changing names and details.
Mar 07, 2019 robert edsels the greatest treasure hunt in history is a book for young adults and older children focusing on a group of eleven men and one woman who were part of the monuments men, a group of soldiers from american and great britain whose goal was to preserve the art treasures of western europe during world war ii. Incredible pictures show life of a modest hero who died saving priceless works of art from the nazis ronald balfour worked for the monuments, fine arts and archives mfaa. The people who knew balfour so well felt that he was unjustly left out to make the monuments men a good adventure cinema. If these things are destroyed, we have lost a part of our past, and we shall be the poorer for it. Ronald balfour, one of two monuments men killed in the line of duty. Allied heroes, nazi thieves, and the greatest treasure hunt in history by robert m. Ronald edmond balfour was born in england into a wealthy military family in 1904. The characters in the film are fictional ones, although some clooney. This post focuses on british major ronald edmond balfour and is the 11th in the series of posts on the monuments men. We do not want to destroy unnecessarily what men spent so much time an. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. The film stars an ensemble cast including clooney, matt damon, bill murray, john goodman, jean dujardin, bob balaban, hugh bonneville, and cate blanchett. Edsel ably portrays their professionalism and dedication, and the obstacles they had to overcome. Ronald edmond balfour george clooneys nazi art theft film attacked for ignoring reallife british war hero.
Balfour was on the trail of the bruges madonna in cleves, germany, when he was killed in an explosion. Allied heroes, nazi thieves, and the greatest treasure hunt in history, tells the rich and exciting story of the men and women who rescued european art from the nazis in world war ii. Balfour joined the monuments mens original group trained by stout in england. The monuments men monuments, fine arts, and archives were a part of the allied armies. The monuments men foundation is a 501c3 notforprofit organization created to raise worldwide awareness about the service of the monuments men and women, honor them for their achievements, and complete their unfinished mission of returning missing art to the rightful owners. Jan 21, 2014 ronald balfour was one of two men killed trying to save art from being destroyed at the end of the second world war, but he is not mentioned in monuments men. The book is divided into five sections, and it features one woman, rose valland, and nine men.
Balfour joined the monuments men s original group trained by stout in england. The revenge of han van meegeren, one of the great art forgers of all time. For example, major ronald edmund balfour was a history and ecclesiastical scholar, and captain walker hancock was a renowned sculptor who designed the 1942 army air medal. This is almost certainly ronald edmond balfour, who among other things, wrote a bibliography for e. Monuments men quotes 2 quotes goodreads share book. Focusing on the elevenmonth period between dday and ve day, this fascinating account follows six monuments men and their impossible mission to save the worlds great art from the nazis. How hollywood wrote the real monuments man out of history. In march 1945 he was chosen as the successor of monuments man maj. Unreal heroes who died protecting precious knowledge see more. Edsel is the bestselling author of saving italy, the monuments men and rescuing da vinci and coproducer of the awardwinning documentary film the rape of europa. Robert edsel, in his book the monuments men, tells the story of the greatest treasure hunt in history and the race to sa the monuments men is set during world war ii, but primarily focuses on the monuments men and their activities from june 1944 to may 1945 edsel xv. George clooney film on hunt for nazi art thefts attacked for.
These men generally had a connection to the arts before wwii. March 1945 would be a busy and eventful time for the monuments men officers, as the allied armies advanced into germany. M forster s 1934 book on goldsworthy lowes dickinson. Relatives of ronald balfour are enraged that george clooney missed the british historian in his coming wwii movie the monuments men. The monuments men were vital in the process of gathering stolen art and returning it to the rightful owner.
The family of british historian ronald balfour, one of two monuments men killed during the war, expressed disappointment that he does not appear in the film. The book on which it is loosely based, the monuments men. Ronald edmond balfour 1904 10 march 1945, kleve was a british medieval historian and a. Balfour was 40 when he enlisted in mfaa and just 41 when he died. He was killed in 1945 when the church from which he was trying to save an altarpiece was shelled, in the town of kleve in western germany, near the dutch border. Ronald balfour was a fellow of kings college in cambridge and one of the monuments men. Balfour was the youngest of the original english born monuments men. Mar 31, 2015 this was especially true for two of them. The monuments men and the women who wrote the war both tell interesting stories in their own right, and also provide a bonus by describing aspects of the history of world war ii not covered in the mainstream accounts. Relatives of ronald balfour are angry that the monuments men. The descendants of ronald balfour, a british medieval historian and one of two monuments men who perished in the war, were upset that the film didnt more closely represent ronald. Balfour was an art history expert at cambridge university and a gentleman scholar before the war. Ronald edmond balfour, member of the monuments, fine arts, and archives mfaa section.
The book has the ownership signature of ronald edmond balfour 1922 on the front endpaper. The film, a comedydrama which stars george clooney and cate blanchett, is based on robert edsel s book monuments men. The monuments, fine arts, and archives program is the subject of the 2014 sony pictures and 20th century fox film the monuments men. His second book, the monuments men, has been translated into more than thirty languages.
George clooney film on hunt for nazi art thefts attacked for ignoring. Ronald edmond balfour 1904 10 march 1945, kleve was a british medieval historian and a fellow of kings college, cambridge. John goodman and cate blanchett, is based on a book by us writer robert. George clooney wades into ukgreece parthenon marbles row. The monuments men true story vs movie george stout. Actor hugh bonnevilles character, donald jeffries, has been linked to ronald.
The monuments men is a 2014 war film directed by george clooney, and written and produced by clooney and grant heslov. In world war 2 he was something of a hero and there is much on him at the monuments men site. Ronald balfour, the british historian who was one of the monument men. Allied heroes, nazi thieves, and the greatest treasure hunt in history kindle edition by edsel, robert m. Rubaiyat of omar khayyam illustrated by ronald balfour and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Its mission focuses on restitution of missing art, and education and preservation of these heroes legacy. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Page 1 of 2 questions for february 5, 2014 book discussion of the monument men general information for the art lovers book club all art lovers with figge museum membership or admission to museum are invited to attend a book club which explores the world of art through discussions relating to art history, artists lives, artwork, periods in art, etc. Directed by george clooney, the film is based on robert m. Historical monuments and cultural centers will come across our path that symbolize to the world all we are fighting to preserve. Major ronald edmond balfour today we remember the first monuments man killed during combat. Courtesy of the provost and fellows at kings college, cambridge. May 6, 2014 relatives of ronald balfour are enraged that george clooney missed the british historian in his coming wwii movie the monuments men. We watched the trailer for the monuments men movie, which several delicious reads members went together to see that weekend.
A new george clooney film brings the heroics of the division to life. Allied heroes, nazi thieves and the greatest treasure hunt in history. I wrote this post and wanted to wait until i finished the book. Allied heroes, nazi thieves, and the greatest treasure hunt in history. He was old enough not to serve, but volunteered out of a passion for art. The movie is based on a book the monuments men by robert m edsel and billed as telling a true story. Balfour was in cleve, germany relocating pieces of a medieval altarpiece to safety when a shell burst nearby, ending his life. While troops fought on the front lines, the monuments men scoured the territories for precious art and documents. Allied heroes, nazi thieves and the greatest treasure hunt in history by robert edsel and bret witter, which is about some of the real wartime activities of the monuments, fine arts, and archives programme mfaa. Courtesy of the provost and fellows at kings college, cambridge balfour was buried in the reichswald forest war. But according to the balfour family, donald jeffries, the english monuments man in the film played by actor hugh bonneville, is quite unlike ronald balfour. Today, march 10, 2020, marks the 75th anniversary of the first death of a monuments man, british major ronald edmond balfour. That spurred nicholas to spend a decade researching her 1995 book, the rape of europa, which began the resurrection of their story culminating with the movie, the monuments men, based upon robert.
Edsel, with bret witter, takes the reader into the world war ii war theater through the stories of ten of the brave men and women, the monuments men, who rescued art that had been stolen by the nazis in europe. Theres a kernel of history there, but the monuments men plays fast and loose with it in ways that are probably necessary to make the story work as a film, but the viewer ends up with a fairly confused notion of what the organisation was, and what it achieved the film is based very loosely on the book the monuments men. On this day those many years ago, major balfour and four local workers were walking a short distance to christ the king church in cleve, germany, to relocate its treasures. Robert edsel, founder of the monuments men foundation in 1943, the allied armies formed a coalition of men whose goal was to assist in the protection of valuable art and national monuments. The monuments men true story vs movie george stout, james. Though the movie isnt as historically accurate as the book they even gave the main characters different names and many of the events were overdramatized, the overall feel for the book gives a little taste of what went on with the monuments men. Clooneys source material is robert edsels 2010 book the monuments men. The monuments men foundation is a 501c3 notforprofit organization created to raise worldwide awareness about the service of the monuments men and women. He bequeathed his personal library of 8,000 books to be divided between the cambridge. This quote is from british monuments man ronald balfour at a draft lecture for soldiers in 1944. Monuments, fine arts, and archives program wikipedia.
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