Saving Mona Lisa: The Battle to Protect the Louvre and Its Treasures from the Nazis

Journalist Chanel’s debut narrates the fascinating WWII story of how French museum officials prevented Germany from plundering or destroying the Mona Lisa and other valuable art. As she recounts, plans for safeguarding the pieces from wartime hostilities began in the mid-1930s, as fascism spread through Europe. By the time war broke out in 1939, masterpieces had already been evacuated to keep them out of range of bombs and weapons fire. They also needed protection from looting; Hitler and top Nazi officials intended to build up Germany’s national collections and add to their private ones with pilfered art. Though the story is more about art than people, Jacques Jaujard, deputy director of the Musées Nationaux, emerges as a central character. Risking his own safety, he delayed carrying out German orders to surrender artwork, protected his employees, and kept track of important Jewish collections. Chanel’s at her best explaining the processes of moving and storing the treasures, and describing negotiations between the French and Germans about where to house the art. A valuable prequel to the more widely known Monuments Men story, this book will intrigue art history and WWII buffs. Illus. (Nov.)