The Keeper of Lost Art by Laura Morelli

The Keeper of Lost Art by Laura Morelli

During 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, this unforgettable piece of WWII historical fiction is 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, this unlikely found family takes 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, beginning a dangerous German occupation that 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 WWII Italy, highlighting the incredible courage and resilience of everyday people to protect some of the most important works of art in western civilization. 

Morelli, Laura: - Laura Morelli is an art historian and USA Today bestselling author of historical fiction. She holds a Ph.D. in art history from Yale University and has taught college students in the United States and in Italy. As a historical novelist, Laura's passion is bringing the stories of art history to life. Her award-winning books include THE GONDOLA MAKER, THE PAINTER'S APPRENTICE, and THE GIANT. Laura's historical novel, THE NIGHT PORTRAIT, is based on the creation of one of Leonardo da Vinci's most famous portraits and its theft by the Nazis during World War II. THE STOLEN LADY, follows the Mona Lisa from 15th-century Florence to 1940s France.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780063206014
ISBN 10	0063206013
Title	The Keeper of Lost Art
Author	Laura Morelli
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	HarperCollins Publishers Inc
Year published	2025-04-22
Number of pages	352
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.