Drawing D-Day
An Artist's Journey Through War
By Maxine Giannini, Ugo Giannini | Publisher: Dover Publications
About the book
“Drawing D-Day powerfully and poignantly reflects back on the watershed event of the 20th century in a way that is unexpected and completely unique.” — Jeffery R. Fulgham, CFRE, Vice President, Finance and Development, National D-Day Memorial Foundation
Drawing D-Day: An Artist's Journey Through War offers an extraordinary, one-of-a-kind testimony in words and images by a soldier and artist who participated in one of the most famous military operations of World War II. On June 6, 1944, Ugo Giannini landed on Omaha Beach with a platoon of military police assigned to accompany the U.S. Army's 29th Infantry Division. Only six of the thirty-seven men in the platoon made it to the beach. Told that he was needed on the bluff above the shore, Ugo climbed the Verville Draw, jumped into a crater made by naval bombardment, and spent that day and part of the next as an eyewitness to the invasion. Remarkably, he began to draw.
These are the only known drawings from that historic day. Drawn in pencil and pen, in a gritty, realist style, the images depict heavily burdened infantrymen trying to stay afloat in seawater, crawling on the beach, and dead among the ruins of a bombed-out village. The illustrations, interwoven with Ugo's letters to his family and girlfriend, portray the horror of war in a deep and personal way. Abstract paintings at the end of the book, composed forty years later, make a powerful statement of the enduring power about war on an artist-soldier's psyche.
Editions of Drawing D-Day
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780486832425
- EBook
- ISBN 9780486839363
Read an Excerpt
“Drawing D-Day powerfully and poignantly reflects back on the watershed event of the 20th century in a way that is unexpected and completely unique.” — Jeffery R. Fulgham, CFRE, Vice President, Finance and Development, National D-Day Memorial Foundation
Drawing D-Day: An Artist's Journey Through War offers an extraordinary, one-of-a-kind testimony in words and images by a soldier and artist who participated in one of the most famous military operations of World War II. On June 6, 1944, Ugo Giannini landed on Omaha Beach with a platoon of military police assigned to accompany the U.S. Army's 29th Infantry Division. Only six of the thirty-seven men in the platoon made it to the beach. Told that he was needed on the bluff above the shore, Ugo climbed the Verville Draw, jumped into a crater made by naval bombardment, and spent that day and part of the next as an eyewitness to the invasion. Remarkably, he began to draw.
These are the only known drawings from that historic day. Drawn in pencil and pen, in a gritty, realist style, the images depict heavily burdened infantrymen trying to stay afloat in seawater, crawling on the beach, and dead among the ruins of a bombed-out village. The illustrations, interwoven with Ugo's letters to his family and girlfriend, portray the horror of war in a deep and personal way. Abstract paintings at the end of the book, composed forty years later, make a powerful statement of the enduring power about war on an artist-soldier's psyche.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Drawing D-Day about?
“Drawing D-Day powerfully and poignantly reflects back on the watershed event of the 20th century in a way that is unexpected and completely unique.” — Jeffery R. Fulgham, CFRE, Vice President, Finance and Development, National D-Day Memorial Foundation
Drawing D-Day: An Artist's Journey Through War offers an extraordinary, one-of-a-kind testimony in words and images by a soldier and artist who participated in one of the most famous military operations of World War II. On June 6, 1944, Ugo Giannini landed on Omaha Beach with a platoon of military police assigned to accompany the U.S. Army's 29th Infantry Division. Only six of the thirty-seven men in the platoon made it to the beach. Told that he was needed on the bluff above the shore, Ugo climbed the Verville Draw, jumped into a crater made by naval bombardment, and spent that day and part of the next as an eyewitness to the invasion. Remarkably, he began to draw.
These are the only known drawings from that historic day. Drawn in pencil and pen, in a gritty, realist style, the images depict heavily burdened infantrymen trying to stay afloat in seawater, crawling on the beach, and dead among the ruins of a bombed-out village. The illustrations, interwoven with Ugo's letters to his family and girlfriend, portray the horror of war in a deep and personal way. Abstract paintings at the end of the book, composed forty years later, make a powerful statement of the enduring power about war on an artist-soldier's psyche.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Drawing D-Day?
History and Archaeology > History > Military history > Specific wars and military campaigns > Second World War
Where can I read a sample of Drawing D-Day?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780486832425
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Drawing D-Day?
Maxine Giannini, Ugo Giannini
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Drawing D-Day is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780486832425) and ebook(ISBN 9780486839363)
Where can I buy Drawing D-Day online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Drawing D-Day from below
Where can I buy Drawing D-Day?