Publisher's Synopsis
It's an interesting overview that reminds us that the theft or unethical acquisition of cultural property goes well beyond the infamous Elgin marbles, the Berlin bust of Nefertiti or the plunder of war that enabled Napoleon to fill the Louvre with treasures.
The author's fascinating book explores how historical sites across the globe have been pillaged by tourists, archaeologists, and infamous conquerors such as Napoleon and Hitler, the looter's par excellence. He examines how artifacts have become symbols of nationhood and how attitudes towards ownership of some of these objects have changed in the last few decades as developing nations attempt to regain control of their identities.
