The first book l recall perusing as a tiny girl was my mother’s Phaidon book of Botticelli’s work and I fell in love with Venus rising from the Sea, the Primavera, and his other masterpieces. (When I finally visited Florence in my early 20s and saw Venus in the Uffizi, I wept.)

At the age of three, when my parents took me to the National Gallery in Washington D.C., I ran up to a round canvas I recognized, gesturing wildly and shouted “Mommy, we have that Botticelli at home!” We can only hope the guard didn’t think my parents were either forgers or art thieves.

Because great art belongs to ALL of us. As in, it shouldn’t live in someone’s rent controlled apartment in the North Bronx where no one else can enjoy it.

THE LAST MASTERPIECE hits me where I live.

I also seem to recall my first Art History teacher explaining that the painters of the Italian Renaissance developed the depth perception we refer to as “perspective.” The concept is often described as a pair of railroad tracks angling toward a single converging point at the horizon line of the canvas.

In her latest opus, THE LAST MASTERPIECE, historical novelist Laura Morelli returns to her beloved Italy. Her canvas is a landscape: the devastation wrought across Italy by the players involved in the Second World War. From the venal Axis Powers to the Anglo-American Allied Forces to the Italian partigiani, everyone has a stake in grabbing many of the greatest works of art (particularly those in Florence and the surrounding areas of Tuscany) that were created during the Italian Renaissance before they are bombed and shelled out of existence. Some of the characters, such as the famous “Monuments Men” of the US and UK armed forces have been assigned to procure and protect these priceless works of art. Other characters have motives that are far less altruistic.

Morelli’s narrative is provided primarily through the lenses of two young women on opposite, if parallel, tracks; and we sense from the get-go that they will ultimately converge on the author’s horizon line—the legendary Altausee Salt Mines near Vienna—where the Nazis are storing the stolen treasures they have looted from Italy.
Eva Brunner, an Austrian fraulein fotografin (“lady photographer”), who believes she is doing a great thing for the Reich realizes the scope of her assignment and respects the art, but must first earn the respect of her male peers and superiors. Her mother was an esteemed journalist and her father is in charge of the Altausee endeavor. Her teenage brother Gerhard longs to enlist. Few families are more pro-Hitler.

Josephine (Josie) Evans is a working class stiff from New Haven, where her mother toils as a cleaning lady at Yale. Prompted by her pal Dot, the pair of young women—one blond, rich and glamorous; the other who goes by the nickname “Mouse”—join the WACS, and eventually end up in Italy. Dot is assigned to a communications unit, while Josie/Mouse, who fails to understand the relevance of preserving centuries-old art and architecture when people are being shelled, is a stenographer assigned to the Monuments division.

Morelli meticulously limns the atmosphere; from the earth shattering sounds of shelling, to the sight of crumbling, burnt-out husks and facades of fifteenth-century homes and fairytale bridges, to the texture of the brushstrokes on a masterwork of the High Renaissance, to the aromas of a nonna’s kitchen on Christmas. There are many historical novels set during WWII; however, I can’t recall any that take us to Florence. I’m grateful to Morelli for portraying this city in a way we have never seen it in current histfic; and in a way we can scarcely imagine it today.

Amid the rampant misogyny of the era, as the chapters alternate between Josie’s narrative and Eva’s, allegiances become confused and begin to blur. Beliefs are questioned. The two railroad tracks begin to get closer to one another. A picture that begins with two conflicting perspectives starts to merge toward a single moral truth as we converge toward the inevitable horizon line.

With a narrative like this one where it’s tempting to have a “good people on both sides” situation, as a Jewish reader, I wondered how Morelli would handle things without making apologies for her characters or offending those whose families endured Nazi brutality. Because the narrative is based on historical events, the author found a way to carefully thread the needle.

Of course saving the Italian people from the Nazis is imperative: that’s a given. But Josie (and Eva)’s respective journeys (and perspectives) ultimately meet: with the realization that to deprive a people, a nation, a culture of their ART is to deprive them of their history and their humanity. It’s NOT for someone else to ride in and take it, to steal and claim it for themselves.

As one of Morelli’s characters in THE LAST MASTERPIECE says fiercely “Look, none of us, nobody is going to live forever. But we’re here for the things that will live forever. We’re here for the idea of family, not just our own families. We’re here for freedom, and not just our own. And these . . . these musty old paintings as you call them, they’re the living embodiment of that idea. They’re not just for the Italians. They’re for all of us.”

~Leslie Carroll

** I received a complimentary copy of THE LAST MASTERPIECE from NetGalley without compensation
My review is entirely my own opinion.

Phenomenal art history of the men & women who saved the world’s most iconic art from destruction during WWII.
The dual narratives of Josie, WAC from US, and Eva, a German photographer, develop the suspenseful plot of saving the art history treasures of Florence and Italy from destruction. Morelli has a brilliant technique of weaving her art history into the world and creating a love of the artist and the artwork. I enjoyed reading the female protagonist’s perspective on the Monuments Men program. I also liked the way Eva’s story showed the cult like following of his political machinations. And I think the roles of women in war time are highlighted by Paloma, the Florentine woman who helped the Allies and befriended Eva too.
Fabulous novel and engaging history!!
The history of the salt mines in Austria had been mentioned in other books but I learned more about the scope of the work here.
Thanks to Netgalley and William Morrow for the ARC.

Overrated Book:
The Last Masterpiece
By: Laura Morelli

WHAT DO PEOPLE SAY?
A brilliant story with a different view of Stolen Art during World War 2.

HOW I FELT ABOUT IT:
I had high hopes for this book, as it gave another view into the Monuments Men, and even had a side of the Nazi’s plan for stealing art. However, I ended up disappointed in this story. It felt very long, and so much of it did not add to the story. I kept wondering, “what is the point”? I liked the concept, but the execution was missing for me.

DO I STILL RECOMMEND IT? Yes

———

The Last Masterpiece was kindly provided as an ARC by Netgalley and William Morrow. Thank you for allowing me to read this wonderful book!

Release Date: 8/1/23

I was SO excited to read this book. I have read other books by Morelli before, and the reviews I had seen so far made me think it would be another home run. Unfortunately, that is not what happened for me. I liked this story, and enjoyed the new perspective. But overall, I found myself dragging as I read this story. It jumped back and forth between the two characters, but there was so much other noise, it was hard to see what the plot was. I liked this book, but I didn’t love it as much as I thought I would.



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An American stenographer and a German photographer meet in Italy.

Both women are trying to save the art the Germans are taking and hiding.

We meet Ava who was taking photographs of art work and Josephine who joined the WAC's and is a stenographer.

We travel with both women and learn of what went on and what the plan was for all the art work.

I actually found it difficult to connect to the story line, but Ms. Morelli's research is impeccable, and her writing is detailed and beautiful as always.

Loved the mention of shorthand, the Italian dialogue, the photography information, and the role Italy played during the war and in the art in Florence.

It was very interesting to learn of Monuments Women. I had only heard of Monuments Men.

Art aficionados and art historians will devour this beautifully written book that tells of how art was protected during WWII. 4/5

This book was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.

Two young women take steps that will change their lives forever. One is an American from a low-income household and no apparent chance of improving her life. A friend convinces her to become a WAC and do something to help the war effort. Another is a young German girl who is doing her small part by taking pictures of the art that is being stored in the salt mines near her home. To keep her brother from being sent off, she volunteers to go toward the font line to help Germany save Italy’s art. Both women find new challenges and grow in ways they never imagined as they find themselves amidst air raids and gunfire.

I firmly believe that the views we have of situations, here it is WWII, usually remains set in how we were taught in school. We forget that there are different sides to conflicts and varied participants. Rarely, has the view from a WAC been presented to me. Never has the view from a German citizen who had been misled by her own government. That’s one of the main reasons that this book got my attention. It was a new perspective that was intriguing.

The chapters alter from one viewpoint to another. Each character starts in a different place in Italy, but very slowly their paths begin to converge. They meet new people, experience the culture (though battle worn) of another country, and begin to see themselves growing with the experiences. These women are inspirational in how they face life and absorb everything around them.

One could describe this as a coming of age story as these young women finally see the world around them and how they can impact it. They lose their innocence in seeing the world as only their small bubble back home. There is so much more to humanity than they have ever experienced. In addition to that, they learn more of historical artwork than they ever thought they would.

But the story is so much deeper than I have explained so far. This is a story of humanity, of the resilience of women, of truth and lies. It is the horrors of war and the beauty that still exists in such a world. I found myself unable to stop reading as I saw the world through the eyes of these two women. I saw art in a new light as well as the people they encountered.

I label 5 star books to be the ones that linger with me long after I finish reading them. With friends who love to read, I have told them all about this book. This is one of those books that should be shouted from the rooftops for its poetic imagery and the world the author invites each reader into.

Historical fiction at its finest.

There is much to like about The Last Masterpiece. Since Laura Morelli's most recent historic novel focuses on the efforts to rescue Italian art during WW II, perhaps the title needs a plural ending--Masterpieces. This seems like a much longer novel than it is. It was very slow and quite detailed, as if Morelli was including every page of research that she certainly completed. The Last Masterpiece is very thoroughly researched.

The two women characters are meant to create contrasting lives. Eva, who is Austrian, works to help the Nazis with their program to "rescue" art. She is incredibly naive and quite idealistic. As a result, readers are meant to understand that she has lived a very isolated life. Eva's focus is photography. As Eva's contrast, Josie is an American, whose work is as a stenographer. Josie is realistic about her job. She learns Italian and learns about the art that the Nazis are trying to steal. Her mind is open and eager to learn. It takes Eva a very long time to understand what the Nazis are doing in Italy.

The research for The Last Masterpiece is impressive, but it also bogs down the story. Readers get lost in all the history, which at times reads more like non-fiction than fiction. Readers will learn a lot about the Nazi effort to steal art, which occurred in every country they occupied. But in the effort to include so much research, the actual novel gets lost. There is much in Morelli's novel to teach readers, but I worry there will also be a tendency by readers to skim through whole sections of the novel. Historical fiction requires a fine balance between history and fiction. I wish that Morelli had been more aware of the imbalance in The Last Masterpiece.

I do want to thank the author and publisher, William Morrow Paperbacks, for providing this ARC, in exchange for my honest review. I do think that many readers will find these two women's lives interesting and their stories captivating. Thank you also to NetGalley for listing this novel.

Brilliantly woven and deeply captivating, Laura Morelli's "The Last Masterpiece" is a true gem in historical fiction. This remarkable tale of courage, resilience, and the profound power of art during the chaos of World War II is an absolute page-turner. The narrative is brought to life through the eyes of two dynamic women, Josie and Eva, whose shared mission (despite their respective countries' opposition) to protect Italy's irreplaceable masterpieces drive the riveting plot. Morelli's meticulous research shines, offering readers a vivid and immersive journey into the heart of wartime Italy. The stirring intersection of these two women's stories is nothing short of mesmerizing, highlighting the enduring spirit of humanity amid adversity. An unforgettable blend of art, history, and human drama, "The Last Masterpiece" is a masterpiece in itself, deserving of a standing ovation. A must-read, five-star experience you simply can't miss!

Thanks to NetGalley, William Morrow, and the author for an early read.

Two women, common goal, two different sides of the war. The Last Masterpiece is,all about saving the art in Italy during World War II, more specifically, Florence, Italy. We have Eva, a woman from Austria, so representing the Nazis, with training in art and photography, who ends up at the German Art History Institute in Florence, Italy - to photograph the works of art and then to help do what necessary to protect those works. Then, we have Josie from the United States, who's only art background is working as a secretary at the art gallery at Yale, but ends up working in arts recovery after she becomes a WAC. As the book goes, we hear the stories of the aforementioned women and what they do for their side of the war effort regarding the great works of art that they both learn to love. The stories then intersect. After these women's stories intersect, we find out what transpires when and after both these women's worlds meet.

Full of great detail of both art and history of the war effort on both aides of the war along with details making Eva and Josie stand out as people who could have existed, The Last Masterpiece is a great story about resilience - of two woman during war time and even of the country of Italy, which is seen within each women's story.

What a fascinating book! Eva is German thru and thru, a photographer and anxious to her part for the war. Josie decides on a whim to join the US Army and is sent to Europe as a stenographer. Both find a deep love for the city of Florence and a desire to see it's masterpieces preserved. Highly recommend!

This is such an amazing historical fiction based on the experiences of two memorable fictional, characters, Josie and Eva during World War II. The book alternates narration between the two, both intent on saving the beautiful, valuable art of Italy from the ravages of war. Josie is assigned to work with the Allied Monuments Men as one of the first group of WAC's to be sent overseas. Eva is a young German photographer, who volunteers to work with the Hitler's army, to document the artwork, never suspecting the true purpose behind the third Reich's movement of the art. The book is fast paced, suspenseful, and full of history. Laura Morelli has expertly blended both the devastation of the war in Italy, the stories of the two women and just how close the world came to loosing beautiful, priceless works of art. Her research for the book is impeccable, and I found myself accessing photos of the artwork described while I read. The author's notes at the end are a must read. I loved the book, the art history, and the story of two brave women. Thank you to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for my advanced copy of the book. The opinions of this review are my own.

The world's masterpieces were in high jeopardy during World War II when Hitler decided he was going to stockpile the artwork of Europe to keep the Allies from "stealing" them. Eva is a photographer attached to the German army in Florence. She is assigned to photograph the master works of Italy as they are being transported to safety in the surrounding areas of Italy. On the other side is Josie attached to the Fifth Army WACs and working with the Monuments Men to find and save the masterpieces. Both women believe they are doing the right thing for the artwork, but Eva soon discovers a fiendish plot to move the Italian treasures to Austria or German to be in Hitler's private museum in Linz. A gripping tale of bravery and strength. I very much enjoyed this vivid picture of the quest to save the world's masterpieces.

Highly recommended! Laura Morelli really knows her art history and the history of art theft by Hitler and Mussolini during WWII - and how to make all that detail into a compelling novel.

The Last Masterpiece by Laura Morelli is a very interesting story of World War II Italy.
Laura Morelli is an expert in art history and after reading this story it shows.
The writing is great and these fascinating historical events seemed very well researched. I was immediately sucked into the summer of 1943 with Eva and Josephine and taken on this amazing adventure.
Morelli is a talented historical fiction author and she provides fascinating insight into the history here and has also brought out the historical tensions in both of the situations, making this an informative read as well as an entertaining read.
I thought the story was riveting and her characters were so well-developed.
Truly enjoyed reading this one and look forward to her next one.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and William Morrow Paperbacks for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for the Arc of this book.

A few years ago, I saw the movie The Monuments Men, based on the true story of this group of Allied men and women given the task of saving and recovering great works of art during WWII. When I heard of this book, by Laura Morelli, on this same topic, I was excited to receive the ARC. The book goes into great detail to follow two fictional woman on opposing sides of the war, both wanting to help save these treasures. I found it fascinating that the author chose to show both sides and how even though both wanted the ultimate goal of saving these masterpieces, they had very different ideas of what that looked like. I am happy that I learned a great deal more about this operation, but I found that I struggled to stay engaged in the story. What I found lacking was the character development. I would have liked to learn more about the two women and to care for them more deeply.

3.5 I signed up for this book, thinking it would give more information about the stolen and lost works of art during WWII. And while it is about that. I find it was not as satisfying as I had hoped. There are 2 young women working, for different sides, to move to safety and preserve priceless works of art in Italy. One is a photographer for Germany. The other is clerical working for the Americans. As the campaign moves forward, each begins to question their role and loyalty to the project. I found neither character well developed nor compelling. There wasn't the appreciation of the works of art I was hoping for. Granted, Germany viewed acquisition of these items as more of smash and grab operation, rather than having true reverence for these works of art. Maybe that is the feeling the reader is supposed to feel.. If you are new to this part of WWII it is a good introduction to the topic of stolen art and worth the read. However I am familiar with this operation and was hoping for a more in depth foray into the works themselves. Thanks Net Galley for this ARC opportunity

The Last Masterpiece is the story of two characters, Eva and Josie. Both are young women who are called into Italy during war time for different reasons. Both are there to make sure the magnificent art works of the famous artists are taken to safe areas so they won't be destroyed during the fighting. The trouble is that both sides are convinced that they have the best plan on where each should go. The story is one of heartache and hardship, but also has triumph as the characters face adversity. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading historical fiction.