The Lion and the Lily

About the Book

In 1940, Marco Tragoni, art historian in Florence, Italy, is drafted into Mussolini’s army, fights the British in Africa, is captured and escapes. In Sicily, he has a malaria attack and meets his love, Laura. He can’t help her leave the island as he is a deserter. He goes to Italy where there is more danger, but he must reach home. Once there, he returns to his work at the art superintendency, with a letter from a doctor stating he is no longer fit for military service. He helps move Renaissance art to safety and also tracks art stolen by the Germans. Colonel Eismann, is agent for Reischmarshal Hermann Göring and Hitler for the acquisition of art; he and Marco are bitter enemies. Hunger and danger haunt the Italian people. Then, the inevitable, Sicily is invaded. Marco is frightened for Laura; he and his family listen to the BBC news and know they are next. Marco is haunted by guilt that he was unable to help Laura and that he has not done enough for his country. After the fascist government in Italy surrenders, the country is invaded by the Allies and the war escalates. The Germans round up men and take them as slaves to Germany, Marco’s father is among them. Marco becomes a Partisan and his brigade is successful in raiding a dinner party at a villa where General Kesselring, commander of all German troops in Italy, is guest of honor. Stolen Renaissance art decorates the dining room. The Partisans recover most of the art but cannot get the symbol of the city of Florence, The Lion and the Lily. Marco’s friend, Benedetto, is arrested, tortured and killed. Marco’s former fiancé, Elena, who is a courier on horseback for the Partisans is caught and hanged by the Germans. Marco joins the American unit of MFAA officers, (Monuments, Fine Art and Archives), and works with Lieutenant Andrews to salvage art. It is a race with time as Germans continue to loot and retreat. In a final struggle with Eismann at a holy retreat begun by the Medici family during the Renaissance, at Camaldoli, Marco kills his enemy and recovers The Lion and the Lily. The war ends but Marco still mourns for Laura. He makes a useless trip to Sicily and searches for her, then returns to Florence, depressed. In the autumn he is exploring a seemingly forgotten piazza on the outskirts of the city and sits near an ancient Renaissance fountain. He hears children playing, then a mother calling, “Topolino! Topolino!” (little mouse). Marco listens carefully as a little boy comes to see the water splashing on the mermaids in the fountain. The call comes again. Marco turns, and sees her. Laura stops a moment, then they run to each other. The child is their son. Marco drives them to meet his mother, Marianna. When he introduces them, Marianna gives her grandson a hug, takes his hand and they walk down the hall. “When your papa and Uncle Giovanni were as big as you, they had a toy chest, and now it is yours.”

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