It’s been quite a wait since finishing the writing of The Monuments Men in April, but the wait is now over as the book appears today in bookstores and online throughout the United Kingdom. I’m very excited about introducing these heroes of civilization and providing you an opportunity to share in their thrilling and yet harrowing story.
This week I’ve given a number of print interviews including Time Magazine, The Sunday Telegraph, and The Sunday Express, radio interviews on BBC which aired both throughout the United Kingdom and last night on BBC World Radio, and on television. In fact, one interview I was particularly pleased to give was with BBC World. (I’ve provided links below if you are interested!)
The people of London, and everyone with whom I’ve spoken, are very excited to hear about this great untold story of World War II and, in particular, these unknown heroes. Later today and tomorrow I’ll be stopping into various bookstores to sign books and meet some of the people who I know will adopt these heroes just as I have.
Monuments Man Ronald Balfour (1904 - 1945). (Photo Courtesy of Kings College Archive Center, Cambridge)
Major Ronald Balfour of the First Canadian Army, was from Oxfordshire, England. He was a historian at Cambridge University, a “gentleman scholar”, a bachelor dedicated to the intellectual life without ambition for accolades or position.
Before heading off to combat in August 1944, Balfour succinctly and beautifully made the compelling case of the importance of the task confronting the Monuments Men in a speech he planned to deliver to his men. He said: “No age lives entirely alone; every civilisation is formed not merely by its own achievements but by what it has inherited from the past. If these things are destroyed, we have lost a part of our past, and we shall be the poorer for it.”
Balfour also explained for his men the word “monuments”:
When we invade Europe, we shall be going into countries which are full of churches and other buildings, of museums and pictures and other works of art, of libraries and archives. These things are all valuable and many of them irreplaceable. It will be the same wherever we go, whether it is France or Belgium or Holland or Norway. To avoid repeating the whole list — churches and other buildings, museums and pictures and other works of art, libraries and archives — every time we speak of them , we use the word monuments to cover them all. So don’t be misled into thinking that when I speak of monuments I mean only statues and tombstones.
Sadly, Monuments Man Ronald Balfour was unable to deliver in person these remarks and others he had prepared. Still, the work he accomplished as a Monuments officer, not to mention the friendships he made and high esteem in which he was held by his comrades, is a testament to this great man and all he did to preserve the things “inherited from the past” he so cherished.
One of the most enjoyable parts of my job is showing people their connection to the story of the Monuments Men. And what a living, current day story it is!
On Stage with President George Bush is the founder of the Monuments Men Foundation, Robert M. Edsel, and "Monuments Men" James Reeds, Seymour Pomrenze, Harry Ettlinger and Horace Apgar (Photo courtesy of White House.)
Almost two years ago, the Monuments Men Foundation for the Preservation of Art was honored to receive the National Humanities Medal for its work preserving the legacy of the Monuments Men and women. This is the United States’ highest honor for work in the humanities. The award was presented by President Bush at the White House in a beautiful ceremony that took place in the ornate East Room and was attended by four of the living Monuments Men.
Also presented that day were the National Medals of the Arts awarded to such luminaries as artist Andrew Wyeth, arts patron Roy Neuberger, and guitarist and innovator, Les Paul.
My son, Diego, was with us that day and being an outstanding guitarist himself, Diego knew exactly who Les Paul was and was beside himself with excitement at the opportunity to meet him. In fact, after the ceremony concluded there was a reception in an adjoining room where those in attendance greeted the medal recipients and congratulated them. It was a great moment for me as a father to watch the enthusiasm my son had when he walked over at his own initiative and introduced himself to Les Paul, who couldn’t have been more gracious and kind to this fourteen year old boy. It said a lot about the quality of the man over and above his achievements.
Les Paul and Diego Edsel. (Photo Courtesy of Robert M. Edsel Collection)
Les Paul died yesterday at the age of 94. He is best known for his work developing the electric guitar and numerous recording studio innovations. His was a life well lived.
To read more about his life, see his obituary in the New York Times: NY Times Obituary
