Pollak’s Arm
Pollak’s Arm by Hans von Trotha, published by New Vessel Press in 2022, is a reprint edition comprising 147 pages in English. Set against the backdrop of October 16, 1943, inside the Vatican, the narrative unfolds as Monsignor F. seeks to rescue Ludwig Pollak and his family from the impending Nazi threat to Rome’s Jewish population. Rather than hastily accepting refuge, Pollak chooses to share his life story, detailing his journey from a passionate archaeology student in Prague to a renowned antiquities dealer.
Readers will find a rich exploration of Pollak’s experiences, including his significant contributions to the field of archaeology and his notable discovery of the missing arm from the ancient sculpture of Laocoön and his sons. The story delves into themes of art, history, and the impact of World War II, highlighting the tension between civilization and barbarism. This novel presents a compelling portrait of a figure dedicated to knowledge and artistic creation during a time of great peril.
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“Enthralling … A great read.”-Philippe de Montebello, former director, Metropolitan Museum of Art
October 16, 1943, inside the Vatican as darkness descends upon Rome. Having been alerted to the Nazi plan to round up the city’s Jewish population the next day, Monsignor F. dispatches an envoy to a nearby palazzo to bring Ludwig Pollak and his family to safety within the papal premises. But Pollak shows himself in no hurry to leave his home and accept the eleventh-hour offer of refuge. Pollak’s visitor is obliged to take a seat and listen as he recounts his life story: how he studied archaeology in Prague, his passion for Italy and Goethe, how he became a renowned antiquities dealer and advisor to great collectors like J. P. Morgan and the Austro-Hungarian emperor after his own Jewishness barred him from an academic career, and finally his spectacular discovery of the missing arm from the majestic ancient sculpture of Laocoöouml;n and his sons. Torn between hearing Pollak’s spellbinding tale and the urgent mission to save the archaeologist from certain annihilation, the Vatican’s anxious messenger presses him to make haste and depart. This stunning novel illuminates the chasm between civilization and barbarism by spotlighting a now little-known figure devoted to knowledge and the power of artistic creation.
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