Raoul Wallenberg is widely remembered for his humanitarian activity on behalf of the Hungarian Jews in Budapest at the end of World War II, and known as the Swedish diplomat who disappeared into the Soviet Gulag in 1945. Today, Wallenberg's example is used to communicate humanitarian values and human rights in many democratic societies. His story incorporates a classical hero narrative which has survived the 'un-heroic' 20th century.
In 2008, there exist thirty-one Wallenberg monuments in twelve countries on five continents, from Hungary to Sweden, from Canada to Chile, from Australia to Russia. The rich diversity of the monuments invites to discuss the different concepts of Wallenberg and heroism as expressed in the artists' works. The art-historical focus of this interdisciplinary study, now in paperback for the first time, makes it a valuable contribution to the discussion of personal monuments, as well as to the socio-historical research on the commemoration of Wallenberg and the concept of the hero.
In 2008, there exist thirty-one Wallenberg monuments in twelve countries on five continents, from Hungary to Sweden, from Canada to Chile, from Australia to Russia. The rich diversity of the monuments invites to discuss the different concepts of Wallenberg and heroism as expressed in the artists' works. The art-historical focus of this interdisciplinary study, now in paperback for the first time, makes it a valuable contribution to the discussion of personal monuments, as well as to the socio-historical research on the commemoration of Wallenberg and the concept of the hero.
'Of the numerous Wallenberg books and publications since the 1980's, this one stands apart. It is to my mind the first substantive study about Swedish diplomat Raoul G. Wallenberg outside of the regular Holocaust Studies/World War II canon. The book is accessible to general audiences, yet there is rich material to mine both for the professional art historian, teachers, Holocaust experts and other specialists. The mark of a great book [is] that it stimulates and surprises you and leaves you changed. And this "A Hero's Many Faces" does in great measure.'
- Susanne Berger, The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation
'A fascinating survey of the range of artistic responses to Wallenberg's story across five continents.'
Tim Cole, Journal of Jewish Identities
'Tanja Schult's A Hero's Many Faces is an ambitious study, impressively working to blend interpretive methodologies, cross disciplinary boundaries, and construct multitiered arguments that speak to several audiences at once...Very convincing as an art historical analysis of monumental sculptures and representations of memory by artists and political and cultural elites'
- J Franklin Williamson, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Susanne Berger, The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation
'A fascinating survey of the range of artistic responses to Wallenberg's story across five continents.'
Tim Cole, Journal of Jewish Identities
'Tanja Schult's A Hero's Many Faces is an ambitious study, impressively working to blend interpretive methodologies, cross disciplinary boundaries, and construct multitiered arguments that speak to several audiences at once...Very convincing as an art historical analysis of monumental sculptures and representations of memory by artists and political and cultural elites'
- J Franklin Williamson, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill