‘The Monuments Men’ author Robert Edsel to speak at free event in Midland

The best-selling author of “The Monuments Men,” Robert Edsel, who got his start in the energy industry, will be at the Wagner Noël Performing Arts Center for a free community lecture at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 27.

“The Monuments Men” is the true story of an unlikely WWII platoon tasked with rescuing the world’s most precious art from the destruction of war and theft by the Nazis. It’s hailed as the greatest treasure hunt in history.

Edsel will share the heroes’ story, the ongoing search for stolen art, and more in this community event.

“It’s always special to speak to audiences in my home state, so it will be a great honor for me to visit the University of Texas Permian Basin Tuesday and share with my fellow Texans stories about the Monuments Men and Women and our ongoing work searching for some of the hundreds of thousands of still missing works of art worth billions of dollars,” Edsel said.

Edsel started his career in the oil industry. He founded Gemini Exploration, which pioneered the use of horizontal drilling technology, and became one of the most active drillers of U.S. horizontal wells in the mid ‘90s.

The Robert Edsel Distinguished Lecture is hosted by UT Permian Basin’s Shepperd Leadership Institute. It’s completely free of charge and no ticket is needed to enter.