Laura Morelli

Broschiertes Buch

The Keeper of Lost Art

Beschreibung

During World War II, Stella makes an unbreakable connection with a boy sheltering in her family's Tuscan villa, while the treasures of the Uffizi Galleries are hidden inside. A beautiful and important story about coming of age in wartime and the power of art to bring hope in times of darkness. Tuscany, 1943. Twelve-year-old Stella is coming of age in a world at war. As bombs rain down on her native city of Torino, her mother sends her to distant relatives at a villa in Tuscany, where her family is tasked with a great responsibility: hiding over 300 priceless masterpieces from the Uffizi Galleries. With the arrival of German troops imminent, Stella finds herself a stranger in her aunt and uncle's villa; and she struggles to understand why her aunt doesn't like her. She knows it has something to do with her parents--and the fact that her father, currently fighting at the front, has been largely absent from her life. Stella must navigate the dangers of wartime Italy, both external and within her own family, to keep the art safe and find her place in the world. She knows art has power, but she herself remains powerless as the adults around her dictate her fate. When refugees come looking for shelter in the villa, Stella befriends Sandro, an orphaned boy with a remarkable artistic talent. Sandro becomes an important ally and muse. For Stella and Sandro, the art hidden in the villa becomes a comfort, a refuge from the threats and uncertainties outside the villa. The hours they spend inside the art hiding place bring meaning to their increasingly stifling world. When German troops requisition the villa, Stella and Sandro must make a decision that puts the fate of the Uffizi's treasures--and their own lives--in the crosshairs. Inspired by the true story of the heroic efforts to safeguard Italy's cultural treasures during World War II, THE KEEPER OF LOST ART is a sweeping and emotionally powerful tale of love, loss, and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity From the USA Today bestselling author of The Night Portrait and The Last Masterpiece comes a gorgeously crafted, immersive coming-of-age-in-wartime story.

Produktdetails

• Verlag: The Scriptorium
• Seitenzahl: 348
• Erscheinungstermin: 22. April 2025
• Englisch
• Abmessung: 216mm x 140mm x 21mm
• Gewicht: 491g
• ISBN-13: 9781942467540
• ISBN-10: 1942467540
• Artikelnr.: 73895756

Rezensionen

"This finely drawn historical novel by Morelli (The Last Masterpiece) is based on a true incident: the discovery during World War II of priceless Italian masterpieces, which were stored in a tiny village to shield them from Nazi pillagers." - Library Journal

"An uplifting novel that's both deeply felt and deeply informative, creating a vivid picture of the villa, its inhabitants, and the war-torn Italian countryside." - Historical Novels Review

"The Night Portrait by Laura Morelli, which links Renaissance Italy and the crucible of World War Two in the most absorbing and innovative fashion, is also a novel of profound emotional resonance. A respected art

historian, Morelli brings an exceptional depth of research and understanding to a story already made memorable by her beautiful prose. This is a truly original novel that has earned its place among my favorite works of historical fiction." - Jennifer Robson, bestselling author of Coronation Year on The Night Portrait

"In a brilliantly written narrative that deftly cuts back and forth between the 15th and the 20th centuries, Morelli brings to vivid life the attempts by a German art restorer and an American soldier to rescue works of art from the destruction of war. This is a compelling story of two heroic people, of the young Cecelia who posed for Da Vinci, the artist, and the times they lived in. I am left with an affirmation of the crucial importance of art to a culture and the power of individual action." - Frances Mayes, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Under the Tuscan Sun on The Night Portrait

"Laura Morelli's The Night Portrait is simply a masterpiece. Morelli imagines a sophisticated plot, fleshes it out with historically significant characters, and spins it into a truly spectacular read. Rarely have I been so caught up in a book as I was with this unforgettable tale of bravery and love, hope and redemption. Fans of Kristin Hannah's The Nightingale and Anthony Doerr's All the Light We Cannot See will delight in this epic novel." - Lori Nelson Spielman, international bestselling author

"Laura Morelli's The Night Portrait is a gorgeous and propulsive novel that brings to dramatic life the stories of Leonardo da Vinci, the subject of one of his most famous paintings, and the Monuments Men's quest to rescue that masterpiece from the Nazis during World War II. This stunning novel is a great masterpiece on its own, making you see old stories-and old art-in fresh, new ways. Perfect for any art lover or anyone who wants to understand why we all must care about the history of art." - Stephanie Storey, author of Oil and Marble and Raphael, Painter in Rome