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The Kaiser's Battlefleet: German Capital Ships, 1871–1918
by Aidan DodsonThis illustrated study of the German Imperial Navy presents a ship-by-ship history from the dreadnaught era through WWI. The battleships of the Third Reich have been written about exhaustively, but there is little in English devoted to their predecessors of the Second Reich. In The Kaiser&’s Battlefleet, Aidan Dodson fills this significant gap in German naval history by covering these capital ships and studying the full span of battleship development during this period.Kaiser&’s Battlefleet presents a chronological narrative that features technical details, construction schedules and the ultimate fates of each ship tabulated throughout. With a broad synthesis of German archival research, Dodson provides fresh data and corrects significant errors found in standard English-language texts. Heavily illustrated with line work and photographs drawn from German sources, this study will appeal to historians of WWI German as well as battleship modelmakers.
The Kaiser's Cruisers, 1871–1918
by Aidan DodsonWhile bookshelves groan with works on the capital ships of the German Third Reich, there is little in English devoted to their predecessors of the Second Reich, so this new book will fill a clear gap in its study of German cruisers of the period, from wooden-hulled corvettes, through the fusion of ‘overseas’ and ‘home’ vessels into the modern small cruisers that evolved and fought in the First World War. The book covers the full range of cruising vessels operated or ordered by the Imperial German Navy between 1871 and 1918, excluding the large cruisers, previously covered by the author’s companion volume The Kaiser’s Battlefleet. These include corvettes, avisos, sloops, torpedo cruisers, III- and IV-class cruisers and small cruisers, and are described and arranged in a chronological narrative. This includes both design and operational histories, the latter continuing down to the end of ships’ service after the fall of Imperial Germany, and it is accompanied by an extensive selection of many rare photographs. The ships’ technical details are tabulated in the second half of the book which also includes sketches of ships’ internal layouts and armour and changes in appearance over time. The authors have made extensive use of archival material, particularly relating to the political and technical background to design and procurement, and present a developmental history of this ship class which is unique in the English language. It will have huge appeal to all those with an interest in the German navy and to those who have been waiting avidly for the sequel to The Kaiser’s Battlefleet.
The Kaiser's Escapees: Allied POW escape attempts during the First World War
by Philip D. ChinneryFollowing on from the his first well-received book 'The Kaisers First POWs' Philip Chinnery now turns his attention to the attempts by allied prisoners of war to escape the Kaiser's clutches and return to their homeland. As the war progressed, the treatment of allied prisoners worsened as the blockade of Germany reduced the amount of food and material coming into the country. The majority of the prisoners were too weak or ill-equipped to attempt to escape, but there were others who were determined to pit their wits against their jailers. These included the officers at Holzminden prison, who dug a tunnel allowing twenty-eight of their number to escape; men like Canadian Private Simmons, who escaped and was recaptured twice before his third attempt saw him gain his freedom; men who jumped from moving trains or marched brazenly out of the camp gates disguised as German officers.Although Holland and Switzerland were neutral countries during the First World War, escaping from their camps, crossing miles of enemy territory and outwitting the sentries guarding the frontiers taxed even the strongest individuals. But many men did make the attempt and more than a few of them were successful. This is their story.
The Kaiser's First POWs
by Philip D. ChinneryIn 1915, the German government published a book entitled 1915 in an attempt to portray the Germans as a civilized people who were destined to win the war, who would treat their prisoners with care and compassion. The Kaisers First POWs is the first book to compare the official German view to the grim reality of captivity, as experienced by the prisoners.Dozens of original photos from 1915 tell the story as seen by German eyes. Compare them to the personal accounts from former prisoners who describe the reality of falling into the hands of the German Army and life as a prisoner of the Kaiser.By the end of the war, the Germans had taken approximately 2.8 million prisoners of war. This books describes the life and times of these prisoners and the manner in which the Germans dealt with the problems involved in accommodating them.
The Kaiser's Pirates
by John WalterThe Kaiser's Pirates relates the story of the war against commerce carried out by the German surface raiders in 1914-17.
The Kaiser's Pirates: Hunting Germany?s Raiding Cruisers in World War I
by Nick HewittThe Kaiser's Pirates is a dramatic and little-known story of World War I, when the actions of a few men shaped the fate of nations. By1914 Germany had ships and sailors scattered across the globe, protecting its overseas colonies and "showing the flag" of its new Imperial Navy. After war broke out on August 4 there was no hope that they could reach home. Instead, they were ordered to attack Britain's vital trade routes for as long as possible. Under the leadership of a few brilliant, audacious men, they unleashed a series of raids that threatened Britain's war effort and challenged the power and prestige of the Royal Navy. The next year saw a battle of wits which stretched across the globe, drawing in ships and men from six empires.By the end, the "Kaiser's Pirates" were no more, and Britain once again ruled the waves. Including vivid descriptions of the battles of Coronel and the Falklands and the actions of the Emden, the Goeben and the Breslau, the Karsrühe and the Königsberg, The Kaiser's Pirates tells a fascinating narrative that ranges across the Atlantic, the Indian Ocean, the Pacific, and the Caribbean.
The Kaiser's Reluctant Conscript
by Dominik Richert&“Superb . . . a useful account of the First World War for anyone interested in the perspective of a member of Imperial Germany&’s Alsatian minority.&”—The Western Front Association As a conscript from Alsace, Dominik Richert realized from the outset of the First World War that his family would be at or near the front line. While he saw no alternative to performing his duty, he was a reluctant soldier who was willing to stand up to authority and to avoid risks—in order to survive. This thoughtful memoir of the conflict gives a lively picture of major events from the rare perspective of an ordinary German soldier. In 1914 Richert was involved in fighting on the French border and was then moved to northern France where he was in combat with Indian troops. In 1915 he was sent to the East and took part in the Battle for Mount Zwinin in the Carpathians and the subsequent invasion of the western parts of the Ukraine and of eastern Poland. In 1917 he took part in the capture of Riga before returning to the Western Front in 1918, where he saw German tanks in action at the battle of Villers-Brettoneux. No longer believing in the war, he subsequently crossed no-man&’s land and surrendered to the French, becoming a &“deserteur Alsacienne.&” The book ends with his return home early in 1919. This &“remarkable book . . . an absolute must-have&” gives a fascinating insight into the War as experienced by the Germans, and into the development of Richert&’s ambivalent attitude to it (The Great War Magazine).
The Kaiser's U-Boat Assault on America: Germany's Great War Gamble in the First World War
by Hans Joachim Koerver&“An absorbing work for those interested in both the Great War and early submarine-based strategic theory.&” —Naval History This deeply researched and engaging account of the use of U-Boats in the First World War focuses on both diplomatic and economic aspects as well as the tactical and strategic use of the U-boats. The book also examines the role played by US president Woodrow Wilson and his response to American shipping being sunk by U-boats—and how that ultimately forced his hand to declare war on Germany.Includes photos and illustrations &“An excellent illumination of a multiclass, militaristic, and diplomatically inept state trying to adapt to the realities of modern war and the exploitation of new technology—and catastrophically failing.&” —Naval History &“Highly recommended.&” —The Northern Mariner
The Kaiser's Warlords
by Patrice Courcelle Ronald PawlyOsprey's study of the German commanders of World War I (1914-1918). The turn of the 20th century saw Imperial Germany as essentially a militarist state, whose growing industrial resources and wealth were harnessed to the task of increasing German military power, at a time of aggressive expansionist diplomacy in competition with Britain and France. After her victories over Austria in the 1860s and France in 1870, Germany's General Staff enjoyed tremendous professional prestige throughout Europe, and was the model for all aspects of command and control. The German army was essentially that of Prussia, Bavaria and Saxony with smaller contingents from the lesser states. Its generals were the men who planned, initiated, and to a large extent controlled the course of World War I.
The Kaiser's Web (Cotton Malone #15)
by Steve BerryIn bestselling author Steve Berry's stunning novel, former Justice Department agent Cotton Malone encounters information from a secret World War II dossier that, if proven true, would not only rewrite history - it could change the political landscape of Europe forever. Two candidates are vying to become Chancellor of Germany. One is a patriot who has served for many years, the other a usurper, stoking the flames of nationalistic hate. Both harbour secrets, but only one knows the truth about the other. Everything turns on the events of one fateful day - April 30, 1945 - and what happened deep beneath Berlin in the Fürherbunker. Did Adolph Hitler and Eva Braun die there? Did Martin Bormann, Hitler's close confidant, manage to escape? And possibly even more important, where did billions in Nazi wealth disappear to in the waning days of the war? The answers to these questions will determine who becomes the next Chancellor. Racing from Chile to South Africa, and finally the secret vaults of Switzerland, former Justice Department agent Cotton Malone must uncover the truth about the fates of Hitler, Braun, and Bormann - revelations that could not only transform Europe, but finally expose a mystery known as the Kaiser's Web.(p) 2021 Macmillan Audio
The Kaiser's Web: A Novel (Cotton Malone #15)
by Steve BerryIn bestselling author Steve Berry's stunning novel, former Justice Department agent Cotton Malone encounters information from a secret World War II dossier that, if proven true, would not only rewrite history - it could change the political landscape of Europe forever. Two candidates are vying to become Chancellor of Germany. One is a patriot who has served for many years, the other a usurper, stoking the flames of nationalistic hate. Both harbour secrets, but only one knows the truth about the other. Everything turns on the events of one fateful day - April 30, 1945 - and what happened deep beneath Berlin in the Führerbunker. Did Adolf Hitler and Eva Braun die there? Did Martin Bormann, Hitler's close confidant, manage to escape? And possibly even more important, where did billions in Nazi wealth disappear to in the waning days of the war? The answers to these questions will determine who becomes the next Chancellor. Racing from Chile to South Africa, and finally the secret vaults of Switzerland, former Justice Department agent Cotton Malone must uncover the truth about the fates of Hitler, Braun, and Bormann - revelations that could not only transform Europe, but finally expose a mystery known as the Kaiser's Web.
The Kaiten Weapon
by Yutaka YokotaTHE KAITEN WEAPON is the full story of a fantastic suicide weapon--the manned torpedo --and of the volunteers who deliberately offered their lives in defense of Japan.So secret that few people even in Japan knew of its existence, the Kaiten force was a desperate and fanatic attempt to smash the U.S. fleet in the closing months of the war.Yutaka Yokota, a Kaiten force volunteer himself, tells how men were trained, gives complete details about the weapon's performance and how it was operated, and provides a comprehensive account of every Kaiten mission.Joseph D. Harrington, an American expert on U.S. Naval operations in World War II, worked closely with Yokota in preparing this first English language edition of his book. In addition, he has provided an accurate appraisal from U.S. sources of the results of Kaiten attacks, making this the definitive work on one of the most bizarre and fanatical fighting groups of the war.
The Kamikaze Hunters: 1945
by Will IredaleAn extraordinary story of courage, valor, and dogged determination, the vivid account of how a few brave young pilots ensured lasting peace during World War II. In May 1945, with victory in Europe established, the war was all but over. But on the other side of the world, the Allies were still engaged in a bitter struggle to control the Pacific. And it was then that the Japanese unleashed a terrible new form of warfare: the suicide pilots, or Kamikaze. Drawing on meticulous research and unique personal access to the remaining survivors, Will Iredale follows a group of young men from the moment they signed up through their initial training to the terrifying reality of fighting against pilots who, in the cruel last summer of the war, chose death rather than risk their country's dishonourable defeat--and deliberately flew their planes into Allied aircraft carriers.
The Kaminsky Cure: A Novel
by Christopher NewNew York Times-bestselling author Christopher New's harrowing portrait of a half-Aryan/half-Jewish family trying to survive the Nazi regime in wartime Austria The Kaminsky Cure is a poignant yet comedic novel of a Jewish/Christian family caught up in the machinery of Hitler's final solution. The matriarch, Gabi, was born Jewish but converted to Christianity in her teens. The patriarch, Willibald, is a Lutheran minister who is an admirer of Hitler on one hand but the conflicted father of children who are half-Jewish on the other. Mindful and resentful of her husband's ambivalence, Gabi is determined to make sure her children are educated, devising schemes to keep them in school even after learning that any child less than one hundred percent Aryan will eventually be kept from completing education. She even hires tutors who are willing to teach half-Jewish children eventually hiring Fraulein Kaminsky, who shows Gabi how to cure her frustration and rage: by keeping her mouth filled with water until the urge to scream or rant has passed. Terrifying yet darkly humorous, The Kaminsky Cure is the story of Gabi Brinkmann's fight to keep her family alive in a world determined to destroy them.
The Kappillan of Malta
by Nicholas Monsarrat'One of the most memorable characters of post-war fiction' Daily ExpressA classic novel set in the siege of Malta 1940-1942 from the bestselling author of The Cruel SeaFather Salvatore was a simple, lumbering priest, a Kappillan serving the poor Valetta, when war came out of the blue skies to pound the island to dust.Now amid the catacombs discovered by a chance bomb, he cared for the flood of homeless, starving, frightened people who sought shelter from the death that fell unceasingly from the sky.His story, and the story of Malta, is told in superbly graphic pictures of six days during the siege. Each of those days brought forth from the Kappillan a message of inspiration to keep them going - the legendary tales of six mighty events of Malta's history which shone through the centuries and gathered them together in a fervent belief in their survival.
The Kar-Chee Reign
by Avram DavidsonEarth is flat, empty, weary, and bare.Her children, too, had left her, all but a few who lived peacefully off the land. And then came the Kar-Chee, to crack Earth open and suck out what remained of her richness, threatening the twilight of th old planet with an evil beyond anything that had gone before. With them they brought their servants, beasts so creul and horrible that men could recall their like only from ancestral nightmares, and named them “Dragons . . .”
The Kashmir Shawl: A Novel
by Rosie ThomasThe beloved, bestselling author delivers &“an epic tale . . . A complicated entanglement of family secrets, love during wartime and dangerous liaisons&” (Red Magazine). &“Sorting through her parents&’ possessions after their deaths, Mair Ellis discovers a Kashmir shawl that once belonged to her Welsh grandmother, Nerys Watkins. Nestled within the folds of this exquisite handwoven piece is an envelope containing a single lock of hair. Curiosity drives Mair to trace the history of the shawl, a quest that takes her from Wales to India. As she pieces together her grandmother&’s past, the two women&’s stories intertwine, transporting the reader between the Kashmir of WWII and the present day. The bulk of the novel belongs to Nerys, a missionary&’s wife whose undemonstrative husband urges her to spend the winter in Srinigar with a friend while he spreads Christianity in remote settlements. Nerys is forever changed in this romantic city, blossoming in an illicit affair while being swept up in the dangerous unraveling of another&’s. The consequences resurface nearly seven decades later, leaving Mair with a life-altering decision. An avid traveler and thorough researcher, Thomas brings the flavors and colors of India to life with vivid detail and develops characters so real one feels a kinship. An engrossing, intelligent, and satisfying read.&” —Booklist (starred review) &“Mystery, intrigue, a great love, passion, and a terrible sorrow all come together to make The Kashmir Shawl a very touching and satisfying read.&” —Barbara Taylor Bradford &“A spellbinding tale . . . Beautifully written, honest and compassionate.&” —Daily Express &“A superbly written novel, marvelously descriptive and especially evocative of the war years . . . A gorgeous treat.&” —Choice
The Kassandra Plan: The Vatican Spy who tried to stop the invasion of the USSR (N.A. #1)
by Atanasio FdHMarch 1941. The armies of the Third Reich spread throughout Europe ... This is the story of the first mission of Simon de Haro, the boy who became a Jesuit, the Jesuit who became an agent of the Holy Alliance, the Vatican Secret Service, and who tried to stop the cruelest war of the 20th century ... and it is also the story of Hannah Kozlova, a Jewish girl thrown into a terrifying Soviet orphanage in Leningrad. It is a story of struggle, of overcoming, of extreme suffering, of memories of a lost life that will intertwine with the present, and of moments of overflowing happiness.
The Kassel Raid, 27 September 1944: The Largest Loss by USAAF Group on any Mission in WWII
by Eric RatcliffeAn account of the 445th Heavy Bombardment Group raid that resulted in the greatest single-day loss to a group from one airfield in aviation warfare history. On Thursday, 28 September 1944, a force of 283 Consolidated B-24 Liberator bombers from the USAAF&’s 2nd Combat Bombardment Wing, took off from their bases in Britain and headed out across the North Sea escorted by 198 P-51 Mustang fighters. The bombers&’ target was the industrial city of Kassel in northern Germany—specifically the engineering works of Henschel & Sohn which built Tiger and Panther tanks. Due to a navigational error, the lead Liberator of the 445th Heavy Bombardment Group turned due east instead of east-south-east and the following thirty-five bombers missed Kassel altogether, attacking an alternative target. But the worst was to come. The change of direction meant that the bombers lost their escorting Mustangs and on the return flight they were pounced on by 150 enemy fighters—and massacred. Twenty-five of the Liberators were shot down inside Germany itself; three crashed en route to the coast (two in France and one in Belgium); two made forced landings at an emergency airfield in England; and the last came to grief within sight of home. Just four of the original thirty-five B-24s landed safely back at Tibenham. In this highly moving account of the Kassel raid, the author, who lives close to the Tibenham airfield, uncovers the painful details of those terrible moments in September 1944 through the stories of those who survived one of the Second World War&’s most disastrous operations in the USAAF&’s battle against the Luftwaffe.
The Katangese Gendarmes and War in Central Africa: Fighting Their Way Home
by Erik Kennes Miles LarmerA history of the 1960s unrecognized state’s army and their role in Central Africa’s political and military conflicts.Erik Kennes and Miles Larmer provide a history of the Katangese gendarmes and their largely undocumented role in many of the most important political and military conflicts in Central Africa. Katanga, located in today’s Democratic Republic of Congo, seceded in 1960 as Congo achieved independence, and the gendarmes fought as the unrecognized state’s army during the Congo crisis. Kennes and Larmer explain how the ex-gendarmes, then exiled in Angola, struggled to maintain their national identity and return “home.” They take readers through the complex history of the Katangese and their engagement in regional conflicts and Africa’s Cold War. Kennes and Larmer show how the paths not taken at Africa’s independence persist in contemporary political and military movements and bring new understandings to the challenges that personal and collective identities pose to the relationship between African nation-states and their citizens and subjects.“A fascinating story which is tied to the colonial development of Katanga province, cold war politics in Central Africa, the crisis of the postcolonial state in the Congo, and the interregional politics in the Great Lakes area.” —Georges Nzongola-Ntalaja, University of North Carolina“A major contribution to our understanding of postcolonial politics in Africa more broadly and sheds light on the survival of militias over time and forms of subnationalism emerging from regional consciousness.” —M. Crawford Young, University of Wisconsin, Madison
The Keane Collection: Keane's Company, Challenge & Charge
by Iain Gale'Wonderfully imaginative' Bernard Cornwell, author of The Last Kingdom. All of James Keane in one thrilling collection. Perfect for fans of Simon Scarrow and Bernard Cornwell.Book 1 - Keane's CompanyJames Keane - card sharp and ladies' man - is one of the finest soldiers of Wellington's army. Keane - hot-tempered, a maverick, never quite accepted by his fellow officers - is in trouble for killing his man in a duel: an activity forbidden by Wellington. To avoid court martial, he takes on an unwelcome assignment: to form an ill-assorted bunch of reprobates into an elite unit capable of operating behind the lines. A nineteenth-century Dirty Dozen. Book 2 - Keane's ChallengeFrench troops led by one of Napoleon's best generals are massing on the border. Wellington's outnumbered force needs to pick off the smaller French units if they are to stand their ground. For that they need information, which is where Captain Keane and his company of reformed scouting officers come in. But it soon becomes apparent that someone high up in Wellington's headquarters is a spy for the French...and Keane's enemies within the army are quick to point the finger. Keane must defend his crew against their accusers - or root out the traitor himself. Book 3 - Keane's ChargeThe intrepid band of warriors, led by Captain James Keane, have been given their toughest job yet. The Portuguese university city of Coimbra is in ruins. Infiltrating the streets are untrustworthy Spanish guerrilla fighters, local Portuguese out for revenge and rival spies determined to find the famous book of ciphers, hidden in the city and guarded by a dissident Jesuit group. James Keane and his men must prevent the book falling into enemy hands but also to discover which of the guerrilla groups can be trusted. But this means sometimes following their own instincts over Wellington's orders . . . can Keane capture the book without sacrificing his honour, position and repuatation?
The Keane Collection: Keane's Company, Challenge & Charge (Captain James Keane #5)
by Iain Gale'Wonderfully imaginative' Bernard Cornwell, author of The Last Kingdom. All of James Keane in one thrilling collection. Perfect for fans of Simon Scarrow and Bernard Cornwell.Book 1 - Keane's CompanyJames Keane - card sharp and ladies' man - is one of the finest soldiers of Wellington's army. Keane - hot-tempered, a maverick, never quite accepted by his fellow officers - is in trouble for killing his man in a duel: an activity forbidden by Wellington. To avoid court martial, he takes on an unwelcome assignment: to form an ill-assorted bunch of reprobates into an elite unit capable of operating behind the lines. A nineteenth-century Dirty Dozen. Book 2 - Keane's ChallengeFrench troops led by one of Napoleon's best generals are massing on the border. Wellington's outnumbered force needs to pick off the smaller French units if they are to stand their ground. For that they need information, which is where Captain Keane and his company of reformed scouting officers come in. But it soon becomes apparent that someone high up in Wellington's headquarters is a spy for the French...and Keane's enemies within the army are quick to point the finger. Keane must defend his crew against their accusers - or root out the traitor himself. Book 3 - Keane's ChargeThe intrepid band of warriors, led by Captain James Keane, have been given their toughest job yet. The Portuguese university city of Coimbra is in ruins. Infiltrating the streets are untrustworthy Spanish guerrilla fighters, local Portuguese out for revenge and rival spies determined to find the famous book of ciphers, hidden in the city and guarded by a dissident Jesuit group. James Keane and his men must prevent the book falling into enemy hands but also to discover which of the guerrilla groups can be trusted. But this means sometimes following their own instincts over Wellington's orders . . . can Keane capture the book without sacrificing his honour, position and repuatation?
The Keeper
by George C. ChesbroAn ex-spy struggles to dismantle a dangerous conspiracy in this explosive suspense thriller from the author of the Mongo Mysteries. As a Naval intelligence officer stationed in the Middle East, Jade Aden was trusted with secrets that would leave most people shaking in their boots. But after the fallout from an incident during Desert Storm forced her into early retirement, Jade made a new, more pedestrian life for herself and her two children in the picturesque town of Cairn-on-the-Hudson, New York. Employed as a river keeper, Jade monitors pollution created by weekend boaters and commercial tankers. But when something strange surfaces in the river, Jade&’s dangerous past is dredged up once more. She knows the object strapped to a dead sea lion is a mine from a top-secret weapons system supposedly canceled years ago. Because it was highly classified, Jade is forced to feign ignorance, but her silence soon leads to death and destruction. Determined to do the right thing, Jade must face off against forces willing to kill to protect their own despicable interests.
The Keeper of Hidden Books: A Novel
by Madeline MartinA NATIONAL BESTSELLER—for fans of All the Light We Cannot See and The Tattooist of Auschwitz!A BookBub Pick for Best Historical Fiction of Summer 2023A heartwarming story about the power of books to bring us together, inspired by the true story of the underground library in WWII Warsaw, by the New York Times bestselling author of The Last Bookshop in London.All her life, Zofia has found comfort in two things during times of hardship: books and her best friend, Janina. But no one could have imagined the horrors of the Nazi occupation in Warsaw. As the bombs rain down and Hitler&’s forces loot and destroy the city, Zofia finds that now books are also in need of saving.With the death count rising and persecution intensifying, Zofia jumps to action to save her friend and salvage whatever books she can from the wreckage, hiding them away, and even starting a clandestine book club. She and her dearest friend never surrender their love of reading, even when Janina is forced into the newly formed ghetto.But the closer Warsaw creeps toward liberation, the more dangerous life becomes for the women and their families – and escape may not be possible for everyone. As the destruction rages around them, Zofia must fight to save her friend and preserve her culture and community using the only weapon they have left - literature.&“Readers will be on the edge of their seats as they are transported…with Madeline Martin's vivid and inspiring characters.&” —Kelly Rimmer, author of The Warsaw Orphan"Madeline Martin immerses us in the expertly rendered and fascinating worlds.&” —Natasha Lester, author of The Riviera HouseDon't miss Madeline Martin's next heartwarming historical novel, The Booklover's Library!Also by Madeline Martin: The Librarian Spy The Last Bookshop in London
The Keeper of Lost Art: A Novel
by Laura MorelliDuring World War II, a girl makes an unbreakable connection with a boy sheltering in her family’s Tuscan villa, where the treasures of the Uffizi Galleries are hidden. A moving coming-of-age story about the power of art in wartime, based on true events.As Allied bombs rain down on Torino in the autumn of 1942, Stella Costa’s mother sends her to safety with distant relatives in a Tuscan villa. There, Stella finds her family tasked with a great responsibility: hiding nearly 300 priceless masterpieces from Florence, including Botticelli’s famous Primavera.With the arrival of German troops imminent, Stella finds herself a stranger in her family’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, who is currently fighting at the front, has been largely absent from her life.When a wave of refugees seeks shelter in the villa, Stella befriends Sandro, an orphaned boy with remarkable artistic talent. Amid the growing threats, Sandro and Stella take refuge in the villa’s “treasure room,” where the paintings are hidden. There, Botticelli’s masterpiece and other works of art become a solace, an inspiration, and the glue that bonds Stella and Sandro as the dangers grow.A troop of German soldiers requisitions the villa and puts everyone to forced labor. Now, with the villa full of German soldiers, refugees, a secret guest, and hundreds of priceless treasures, no one knows who will emerge unscathed, and whether the paintings will be taken as spoils or become unintended casualties.Inspired by the incredible true story of a single Tuscan villa used as a hiding place for the treasures of Florentine art during World War II, The Keeper of Lost Art takes readers on a breathtaking journey into one of the darkest chapters of Italy’s history, highlighting the incredible courage of everyday people to protect some of the most important works of art in western civilization.