{"product_id":"2940013269989","title":"THE GUNS OF EUROPE","description":"CONTENTS\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCHAPTER I.    THE SISTINE MADONNA\u003cbr\u003eCHAPTER II.   THE THUNDERBOLT\u003cbr\u003eCHAPTER III.  THE REFUGE\u003cbr\u003eCHAPTER IV.   THE THRILLING ESCAPE\u003cbr\u003eCHAPTER V.    THE FIGHT IN THE BLUE\u003cbr\u003eCHAPTER VI.   ABOVE THE STORM\u003cbr\u003eCHAPTER VII.  THE ZEPPELIN\u003cbr\u003eCHAPTER VIII. THE FRENCH DEFENSE\u003cbr\u003eCHAPTER IX.   THE RIDE OF THREE\u003cbr\u003eCHAPTER X.    THE DRAGONS OF THE AIR\u003cbr\u003eCHAPTER XI.   THE ARMORED CAR\u003cbr\u003eCHAPTER XII.  THE ABANDONED CHÂTEAU\u003cbr\u003eCHAPTER XIII. ON THE ROOF\u003cbr\u003eCHAPTER XIV.  THE GERMAN HOST\u003cbr\u003eCHAPTER XV.   THE GIANT GUN\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCHAPTER I\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTHE SISTINE MADONNA\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eJohn turned a little to the left, going nearer to the window, where he\u003cbr\u003ecould gain a better view of the Madonna, which he had heard so often was\u003cbr\u003ethe most famous picture in the world. He was no technical judge of\u003cbr\u003epainting--he was far too young for such knowledge--but he always\u003cbr\u003econsidered the effect of the whole upon himself, and he was satisfied\u003cbr\u003ewith that method, feeling perhaps that he gained more from it than if he\u003cbr\u003ehad been able to tear the master-work to pieces, merely in order to see\u003cbr\u003ehow Raphael had made it.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Note well, John, that this is the Sistine Madonna,\" began William Anson\u003cbr\u003ein his didactic, tutorial tone. \"Observe the wonderful expression upon\u003cbr\u003ethe face of the Holy Mother. Look now at the cherubs gazing up into the\u003cbr\u003eblue vault, in which the Madonna like an angel is poised. Behold the\u003cbr\u003esublime artist's mastery of every detail. There are those who hold that\u003cbr\u003ethe Madonna della Sedia at Florence is its equal in beauty and\u003cbr\u003egreatness, but I do not agree with them. To me the Sistine Madonna is\u003cbr\u003ealways first. Centuries ago, even, its full worth was appreciated. It\u003cbr\u003ebrought a great price at----\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe rest of his speech trailed off into nothingness. John had\u003cbr\u003eimpatiently moved further away, and had deliberately closed his ear also\u003cbr\u003eto any dying sounds of oratory that might reach him. He had his own\u003cbr\u003emethod of seeing the wonders of the Old World. He was interested or he\u003cbr\u003ewas not. It was to him a state of mind, atmospheric in a way. He liked\u003cbr\u003eto breathe it in, and the rattle of a guide or tutor's lecture nearly\u003cbr\u003ealways broke the spell.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAnxious that Mr. Anson should not have any further chance to mar his\u003cbr\u003epleasure he moved yet closer to the great window from which came nearly\u003cbr\u003eall the light that fell upon the Sistine Madonna. There he stood almost\u003cbr\u003ein the center of the beams and gazed upon the illumined face, which\u003cbr\u003espoke only of peace upon earth and good will. He was moved deeply,\u003cbr\u003ealthough there was no sign of it in his quiet eyes. He did not object to\u003cbr\u003eemotion and to its vivid expression in others, but his shy nature,\u003cbr\u003efeeling the need of a defensive armor, rejected it for himself.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt was a brighter day than the changeful climate of Dresden and the\u003cbr\u003evalley of the Elbe usually offered. The sunshine came in a great golden\u003cbr\u003ebar through the window and glowed over the wonderful painting which had\u003cbr\u003estood the test of time and the critics. He had liked the good, gray city\u003cbr\u003esitting beside its fine river. It had seemed friendly and kind to him,\u003cbr\u003ehaving in it the quality of home, something almost American in its\u003cbr\u003esimplicity and lack of caste.","brand":"SAP","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47176026358000,"sku":"2940013269989","price":0.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940013269989_p0.jpg?v=1763579180","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940013269989","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}