When Harry Met Pablo: Truman, Picasso, and the Cold War Politics of Modern Art

by Matthew Algeo

Truman and Picasso were contemporaries and were both shaped by and shapers of the great events of the twentieth century—the man who painted Guernica and the man who authorized the use of atomic bombs against civilians.
But in most ways, they couldn’t have been more different. Picasso was a communist, and probably the only thing Harry Truman hated more than communists was modern art. Picasso was an indifferent father, a womanizer, and a millionaire. Truman was utterly devoted to his family and, despite his fame, far from a rich man. How did they come to be shaking hands in front of Picasso’s studio in the south of France?
Truman’s meeting with Picasso was quietly arranged by Alfred H. Barr Jr., the founding director of New York’s Museum of Modern Art and an early champion of Picasso. Barr knew that if he could convince these two ideological antipodes, the straight-talking politician from Missouri and the Cubist painter from Málaga, to simply shake hands, it would send a powerful message, not just to reactionary Republicans pushing McCarthyism at home, but to the whole modern art was not evil.
Truman author Matthew Algeo retraced the Trumans’ Mediterranean vacation and visited the places they went with Picasso, including Picasso’s villa, Picasso’s ceramics studio in Vallauris, and Château Grimaldi, a museum in Antibes.
A rigorous history with a heartwarming center, When Harry Met Pablo intertwines the biographies of Truman and Picasso, the history of modern art, and twentieth-century American politics, but at its core it is the touching story of two old men who meet for the first time and realize they have more in common—and are more alike—than they ever imagined.

Genres: History, Art, Nonfiction, Biography, Politics, Audiobook

256 pages, Hardcover

Published November 14, 2023

About the author

When he's not writing his own biography in the third person, Matthew Algeo writes about unusual and interesting events in American history.

He is also a journalist who has reported from four continents.

In addition to reporting and writing, Algeo has worked as a convenience store clerk, a Halloween costume salesman, and a hot dog vendor in a traveling circus. Now he is the morning host at Kansas Public Radio.

He lives in Lawrence, Kansas, with is wife, Allyson, and daughter, Zaya.

Reviews

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

"In a world growing more divided by the minute - ideologically, socially, and culturally - the news that these two figures representing wildly divergent worldviews could spend a pleasant day sightseeing together was a welcomed respite from the strife that seemed to cover every inch of the front pages." -- page 195

Author Algeo works his brand of literary magic again - covering forgotten or lesser known moments in 20th century U.S. history - with the concise When Harry Met Pablo. Similar to his earlier Harry Truman's Excellent Adventure (an excellent book, BTW), a summer vacation by the 33rd former POTUS sort of kickstarts the brief narrative into motion. Harkening back to a period when the burgeoning modern art movement was under attack in America due to the McCarthyism 'Red Scare' of the 40's and 50's - as being suspected or branded as having Communist opinions was the quick kiss of career death, if not worse - Harry Truman, while on a three-week jaunt throughout Europe in June 1958, agreed to meet acclaimed artist Pablo Picasso at his home on the French Riviera. (I can't word it any better than the following quote - "Picasso was a communist, and probably the only thing Truman hated more than communists was modern art. Picasso was an indifferent father, a womanizer, and a multimillionaire. Truman was utterly devoted to his family and, despite his fame, not spectacularly wealthy. The cubist and the square." - from the introduction.) While this idea may sound like a slender plot thread for a book - admittedly, said visit only occurs in the final chapter - Algeo colors his canvas by providing necessary (and at times illuminating) biographical info on the two men PLUS details how the modern art movement was then-viewed in the U.S. from the different political spectrums. As an admirer of Harry S. Truman, I found this fascinating and even a bit heartwarming as author Algeo deftly shows that Truman, although he may have had unshakeable opinions, could be open-minded or remarkably astute when necessary and would not dig in his heels just to adhere to the party line. For the love of God, could this type of leader please appear once again in my country?

[Brendan (History Nerds United) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I keep running into books lately where my ratings have to come with caveats. When Harry Met Pablo by Matthew Algeo is one of them. Let's break this down.

The book is well written. Algeo keeps the story moving and has a knack on bringing out the interesting parts of whatever he is talking about. He is also funny. He got a few good laughs out of me and I am a humorless person. (Half of the previous sentence is a lie.) The book clearly has a theme, which is that people can fundamentally disagree about something and still be kind to each other. So, what's the problem?

This book is not long enough or it is too long. Take your pick. Algeo says it started as an article and I think it would have been strong if it stayed that way. Instead, it's very short for a book (less than 200 pages) and that length does not allow for a real analysis of any one particularly thing or person. I don't feel like I got to know Truman or Picasso better. (I was reminded how much of a jerk Picasso is, though.) There are long sections on art events which do not directly concern our two subjects. There are a lot of side characters. That said, I didn't hate any section. The book just feels incomplete. Or maybe it feels too long. Again, take your pick.

If the subject seems interesting or you like Algeo's other work, you'll probably like it. If those two things are untrue, you may want to skip.

(This book was provided as a review copy by the publisher.)

[Kat Ninteau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.

This book was particularly fun for me because I was an art history/political science double major and the author marries these subjects so well. What makes this story so interesting overall is that it creates a timeline for the reader that shows how art education and museums came to even exist in America (this is probably later than you’d think, the worldwide reactions to modern art, and how we ended up with the censorship and fear of the red scare and McCarthyism.

This books isn’t as much about Truman and Picasso as it is about why their meeting was significant in relation to the politics of that time and the decades leading up to it. The way this history is leading out is very accessible and fascinating, as it touches on matters that are not discussed in history classes unless you are taking very specialized courses.

Would recommend to anyone who enjoys history and/or art history.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This eminently readable book is less about Picasso and Harry Truman than it is about the conservative politicians who worked assiduously to discourage exhibits of “ modern art” in America. It is a very enlightening story for those of us who did not live through the narrow-minded attitudes towards “ modernism.”

It was an interesting perspective and there were lots of “ tidbits” in the book that surprised and intrigued me. The writers style is quite colloquial and, although the book is well-researched, at no point does the reader feel bogged down with facts.

[Stuart Endick · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Harry met Pablo is a supremely entertaining account of an episode that provides a window into social, political, and Presidential history. While those who follow history are likely familiar with McCarthy era politics, its intense vilification of modern art and the efforts to suppress its expression are forgotten. The unlikely meeting of Truman and Picasso was therefore a phenomenon similar to the better known meeting of Nixon and Elvis, especially given Harry Truman’s distain for modern art. Along the way the author provides insights into Truman’s memorable personality in a series of exquisitely crafted anecdotes and sidebars about his life, the period, and the European vacation in which he met Picasso. The book is a page turning delight.

[Arielchayes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy of this audiobook. Overall I enjoyed this book, however, I did find it to be a bit disjointed. It's ultimately a story of how Picasso and Truman met and what that meant for modern art in America. However, both figures (Truman and Picasso) have such vast and complicated histories to cover that the author includes some background, but there are a lot of holes as it is not supposed to be a comprehensive history. The author said in the beginning of the book that he originally intended to write the story as an article and I think that might have been a better format for this story. I did enjoy the book and it goes quickly, but it might be bested suited to those wanting to scratch the surface of this storyline before deciding if they'd like to dig into larger volumes on either or both of these men or the history of modern art in America and Europe.

[Paul Kiczek · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the great tug of war of existential beliefs, there’s always a point and counterpoint. But, it's a universal law that everything changes with the passing of time. Maybe we soften or maybe we learn to live with opposing points of view. This is a story of how contradictory lives and beliefs co-exist and come together, at least briefly, in odd and unexpected ways.

A photo of Picasso shaking hands with Truman seemed to have been the perfect set piece for Algeo’s travel back in time to explore a hopeful period where stark contractions co-existed. It was clear. There was a good, bad and ugly. But, in the post World War II era everything was re-aligning in art, music and politics.

Their 1958 meeting occurred during the cold war after one of the most violent and consequential periods known to man. Truman, a popular democratic everyman, used his might to win a war by unrepentantly authorizing the killing of millions to justify the end. Picasso, on the other hand, was a famous recluse artist who promoted peace and was an unrepentant communist. They were polar opposites in almost every way. If a photo is worth a thousand words this one was worth a thousand questions,

When Harry Meets Pablo provides an intriguing history of how the definition of art was changing in the mid 1900’s. The first half of the book paints a picture of how America was reacting to the awakening of a new form of “modern art” exemplified by Picasso and other European artists. The book discusses how the new art form was received and nurtured by creating such institutions as MoMA. Special gallery events and even a traveling show were promoted to allow the public to experience the new form of art. Even the government promoted a cultural awakening to art through the Advancing American Art program.

At the time of the “red scare”, a relatively unknown, but deeply conservative, Republican Michigan congressman named George A. Dondero played an outsized role in stopping government art programs, much as was played out in the McCarthy hearings at the time. He declared modern art an infiltration of communism and blacklisted many artists as communist sympathizers - even though communist dictators like Stalin would have nothing to do with it.

Slowly, in America, the existing convention of realistic art gave way to an acceptance of the modern style by the middle of the century. But not everyone agreed that this was “art”. Truman, for one, often called it “ham and eggs” art disparaging the skill and impact it had. He was not alone. But at least Harry appreciated the difference of opinion and fought for an artist’s freedom of expression.

The second half of the book offers a unique look at a world attempting to regain its post-war balance. After his presidency, Truman planned to slip away to his Missouri home from Washington on a public train and once again lead a normal civilian life. Harry soon learned that the public was still interested in his life and thoughts. He was chased down by fans and the press everywhere he went.

Sam Rosenman, an ex-judge and close advisor to Franklin Roosevelt helped create the New Deal strategy. He was to continue to become a “consiglieri” to Harry while he was president. He and his wife Dorothy became close personal friends with Harry and Bess. Sam’s law partner Ralph Colin, a well-known collector of modern art and trustee at MoMA, educated Sam on the new modern style. Soon, Rosenman and Truman were two friends with at least one contrary point of view - “What is art”?

Truman asked Rosenman and his wife Dorothy to join him and Bess on a European vacation in mid-1958. The cross-Atlantic voyage by ship would take them to ports in Italy and eventually Cannes in France. Coincidentally, Picasso’s home was in Vallauris, in the hills above Cannes

A plot for a meeting was apparently hatched clandestinely by Alfred Barr, founder and chief executive of MoMA who had helped Picasso gain recognition in America and wanted to promote modern art. Truman a family man of modest means was to meet Picasso, a rich and famous womanizer at Picasso’s home. No doubt Sam Rosenman also had a hand in arranging the meeting. But how was that to be done when the two men, in the twilight of their careers, seemed to have nothing in common except their age?

Here’s where the story becomes hazy as Picasso, famously a recluse, graciously agrees to meet with Truman at his Villa La Californie for the day. The Truman’s and Rosenman’s spend most of the day together with Picasso graciously showing them around his studio and nearby town famous for his pottery. There is no real reporting of what transpired between them but photos seem to reveal a cordial if not enjoyable visit. We see photos and speculate what that day might have been. The rest is up to our imagination.

The meeting made a small story buried in the news, as other world events stole the limelight. We don’t know if the meeting made an impact on anyone. Perhaps it just was a courteous and friendly call or maybe a sign that time had soften the difference between different points of view. Not knowing the details, leaves the reader with unanswered questions of what might have happened when opposites come together.

[Paul Spence · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the great tug of war of existential beliefs, there’s always a point and counterpoint. But, it's a universal law that everything changes with the passing of time. Maybe we soften or maybe we learn to live with opposing points of view. This is a story of how contradictory lives and beliefs co-exist and come together, at least briefly, in odd and unexpected ways.

A photo of Picasso shaking hands with Truman seemed to have been the perfect set piece for Algeo’s travel back in time to explore a hopeful period where stark contractions co-existed. It was clear. There was a good, bad and ugly. But, in the post World War II era everything was re-aligning in art, music and politics.

Their 1958 meeting occurred during the cold war after one of the most violent and consequential periods known to man. Truman, a popular democratic everyman, used his might to win a war by unrepentantly authorizing the killing of millions to justify the end. Picasso, on the other hand, was a famous recluse artist who promoted peace and was an unrepentant communist. They were polar opposites in almost every way. If a photo is worth a thousand words this one was worth a thousand questions,

When Harry Meets Pablo provides an intriguing history of how the definition of art was changing in the mid 1900’s. The first half of the book paints a picture of how America was reacting to the awakening of a new form of “modern art” exemplified by Picasso and other European artists. The book discusses how the new art form was received and nurtured by creating such institutions as MoMA. Special gallery events and even a travelling show were promoted to allow the public to experience the new form of art. Even the government promoted a cultural awakening to art through the Advancing American Art program.

At the time of the “red scare”, a relatively unknown, but deeply conservative, Republican Michigan congressman named George A. Dondero played an outsized role in stopping government art programs, much as was played out in the McCarthy hearings at the time. He declared modern art an infiltration of communism and blacklisted many artists as communist sympathizers - even though communist dictators like Stalin would have nothing to do with it.

Slowly, in America, the existing convention of realistic art gave way to an acceptance of the modern style by the middle of the century. But not everyone agreed that this was “art”. Truman, for one, often called it “ham and eggs” art disparaging the skill and impact it had. He was not alone. But at least Harry appreciated the difference of opinion and fought for an artist’s freedom of expression.

The second half of the book offers a unique look at a world attempting to regain its post-war balance. After his presidency, Truman planned to slip away to his Missouri home from Washington on a public train and once again lead a normal civilian life. Harry soon learned that the public was still interested in his life and thoughts. He was chased down by fans and the press everywhere he went.

Sam Rosenman, an ex-judge and close advisor to Franklin Roosevelt helped create the New Deal strategy. He was to continue to become a “consiglieri” to Harry while he was president. He and his wife Dorothy became close personal friends with Harry and Bess. Sam’s law partner Ralph Colin, a well-known collector of modern art and trustee at MoMA, educated Sam on the new modern style. Soon, Rosenman and Truman were two friends with at least one contrary point of view - “What is art”?

Truman asked Rosenman and his wife Dorothy to join him and Bess on a European vacation in mid-1958. The cross-Atlantic voyage by ship would take them to ports in Italy and eventually Cannes in France. Coincidentally, Picasso’s home was in Vallauris, in the hills above Cannes

A plot for a meeting was apparently hatched clandestinely by Alfred Barr, founder and chief executive of MoMA who had helped Picasso gain recognition in America and wanted to promote modern art. Truman a family man of modest means was to meet Picasso, a rich and famous womanizer at Picasso’s home. No doubt Sam Rosenman also had a hand in arranging the meeting. But how was that to be done when the two men, in the twilight of their careers, seemed to have nothing in common except their age?

Here’s where the story becomes hazy as Picasso, famously a recluse, graciously agrees to meet with Truman at his Villa La Californie for the day. The Truman’s and Rosenman’s spend most of the day together with Picasso graciously showing them around his studio and nearby town famous for his pottery. There is no real reporting of what transpired between them but photos seem to reveal a cordial if not enjoyable visit. We see photos and speculate what that day might have been. The rest is up to our imagination.

The meeting made a small story buried in the news, as other world events stole the limelight. We don’t know if the meeting made an impact on anyone. Perhaps it just was a courteous and friendly call or maybe a sign that time had soften the difference between different points of view. Not knowing the details, leaves the reader with unanswered questions of what might have happened when opposites come together.

[Joe Kraus · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one would have been a good article in something like Smithsonian Magazine. As a book, well…it runs a lot longer than it needs.

All of this starts with the cover photo – when Harry Truman met Pablo Picasso. Granted, that feels like it ought to represent a story. How did a plainspoken American feel about meeting arguably the most famous painter of the 20th Century?

And, more broadly, their individual encounter sits atop a larger context of Modern Art as an aesthetic (and political) assertion of American freedoms to the larger autocratic world.

To his credit, Algeo tells that part of the story at length. While there was conservative resistance, it’s largely true that the American government promoted Modern Art as a sign of the artistic freedom of Americans. We, went the claim, don’t shackle the imaginations of our citizens. We celebrate the new, the unknown, the challenging, and that reflects our democratic ideals.

There’s good stuff there, but it’s largely tangential to both Truman’s and Picasso’s stories. Picasso wasn’t an American, so the initiatives affected him only marginally, and Truman hated Modern Art, calling it “ham and egg” work.

We go whole chapters here without reference to the fact that the thread tying the narrative together is the story of the two men meeting. And, when they do meet, we get a lot of unnecessary detail – the shape of the driveway, the current owner of the house, Algeo’s inability to get into the house – and it mutes what effectiveness there might have been to the encounter.

It is fundamentally interesting to get a sense of the politics that drove Truman to want to meet Picasso – even if the meeting itself took place after he was out of office and consisted of mostly a personal rather than state visit – but the more we hear about it, the less the peculiarity of it seems consequential.

Good material, as I say, but spread too thin across the bread.

[Dalton Valette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had known a bit about Harry S. Truman and his meeting with Pablo Picasso, but when I first heard of this story some years ago I never imagined a full book about this would come out; let alone one which also dives into the history and overall reaction and hostility individuals and governments had towards modern art. Here Matthew Algeo does just that. A brisk read, When Harry Met Pablo covers the lives of both president and painter with gusto while adding detail about the historical and cultural context of their times and lives. These seemingly antithetical individuals shared a number of similarities and perhaps the most crucial of these is the statement such meeting of these men was to have on the world; modern art is not a danger to the United States. Though this statement seems obvious, even trivial now, through Algeo’s writing, one can have a clearer understanding of the hysteria and fear-mongering associated with artistic movements such as surrealism, Dadaism, and cubism and how some of the most surprising agencies of the United States government worked to promote American artistic expression. While of the two men, Picasso gets the shorter end of the stick as far as detail goes (something I would have liked more of given my own lack of knowledge in Picasso’s personal life) and some chapters felt choppy—even truncated—compared to others, When Harry Met Pablo is an enjoyable, fast read that packs a great deal into its short page count and leaves the reader wanting to learn more. A showcase of the power a single image can have on an individual, a movement, and a nation.

Thank you Chicago Review Press for the copy of this book.

[Marcus Ellard · Rating 2 out of 5]

As other reviewers who reviewed the book, but rated it higher, have noted; the book has little to do about the title. I have actually tried to figure out the reason the author penned this work of historical musing.
First what I liked. At random places the author has interesting little essays about everything from cruise ships to war hero’s that had a chance meeting with Harry Trueman. Clearly the author spent time digging for anything to write on to justify a book rather than the 500 word essay that the topic merited. But, perhaps a book is required if you need to have the ability to write off your European vacation as a tax expense.
Now on the rest. The author spends a great time vilifying a REPUBLICAN for opposing US funds being spent on an art movement associated with communists. Mocking the very idea that modern art had such associations. Then he proceeds to point out the Harry Truman shared the views of this extremist Republican, even denying a Visa to Picasso who was attempting to visit the US while being a self declared communist, participating in a group of modern artists as activists.
Also difficult to give credit to the fiction of having dates of meetings, photographs, and events that occurred and the author speaking as if he had any idea what Harry Truman thought or felt. By his own description Truman agreed completely with the Republican whose only other career contribution seemed to be the trifle of passing legislation enabling that minor contribution to American wealth- the St. Lawrence Seaway.! How dare this congressman disagree with the wealthy women who donated to the Democratic Party and MOMA?

[Jon Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in hardback checked out from the library. "When Harry Met Pablo" is yet another of Matthew Algeo's delightful romps through some little-known backstory of history. The time is June 1958. Harry & Bess Truman are taking a vacation in Europe, and somehow happen to meet with Pablo Picasso, who becomes their impromptu tour guide for the whole day. This book covers how this unlikely meeting came about, starting with the history of the "modern" art movement. Also covered are the actions of the US Government which, in the years following WW2, essentially declared war on modern art, branding it a form of Communist influence intended to destroy the tender hearts and minds of God-fearing Americans. Truman himself was not a fan of modern art, often disparaging it, but he defended the rights of artists to make such art. The meeting between the avant garde artist and ex-President was brokered by Alfred Barr, a MoMA luminary, before Truman left on his trip. Algeo has stuffed historical fact, amusing anecdotes and fascinating asides into the story, and finishes the whole thing in a brief 198 pages. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Five out of five stars.

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Harry Truman and Pablo Picasso were about as different as you could imagine – the president who authorized the dropping of the atomic bomb hated modern art, while the cubist painter was a communist. Nevertheless, Alfred Barr Jr. managed to set up a meeting between the two to send a message to the world that modern art is not evil. This book covers the background of both men, as well as politics and art in the decades leading up to their meeting.

I enjoyed reading about these two very different men, the world they lived in, and what a historic moment it was when they met. This will be an easy book for anyone to follow, regardless of your knowledge of early 20th century politics and art; the information is shared well, and the story is quite readable. Matthew Algeo did an excellent job narrating the audiobook. I recommend this book for politics and art enthusiasts.

Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me an audio ARC of this book.

[Lucy · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love Art History, History, and Politics this is the book for you! The author shows extreme strength in his research skills and going into depth into the modern art movement, the history and politics during Harry S. Truman's presidential terms, and how art and politics intersected during the afternoon these two icons spent together. The event of former American President Harry S. Truman meeting Pablo Picasso one of the masters of the Modern Art movement is quite a short part of this book. I learned so much about an ill fated modern art diplomacy program that was created through the U.S. State Department, and a French coup that had just occurred prior to this event among many details that are explored in When Harry Met Pablo. Also of the details of the attack on modern art led by Michigan senator Gorge Dondero who viewed modern art as a conspiracy by Moscow to spread Communism, was a topic I had never learned about in studying Art History.

[Roberta Westwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really rather good

I’m a Picasso fan, but admittedly not inclined to learn the biography of a US President at the moment, but I thought how these two lives would intersect would be interesting. The meeting itself was only a few hours long, and it does take most of the book to get there, but the context leading up to it was well set. Perhaps what I got most out of the book was an appreciation for just how much backlash there was in the US over modern art, and Picasso, at the Armoury Show, and beyond… all the rhetoric about communism and fear around modern art ran deeper than I had understood. With that in mind, I understood the intent behind arranging this public meeting. A good listen for history geeks.

[Jana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I learned a lot about the beginnings of modern art and a little bit of the personal life of Picasso as well. Of course, Harry Truman is always interesting to read about. Such a personable character! I never knew that Truman and Picasso had met, even though Truman didn’t like Picasso’s work or modern art in general. I loved the interesting little side avenues the author would take that were very good stories. But, there was a bit of an air of snootiness about the book when talking about modern art. As a person who doesn’t always love modern art (although I do enjoy quite a bit of Picasso), I felt a little condescended to. Also, the author’s politics are pretty clear. And also a point of condescension throughout the book. But still, an enjoyable read.

[Harley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is for Harry Truman fans. Harry did not like modern art but on a trip to Europe in 1958 he was given an opportunity to meet Pablo Picasso and took it. Since there is not a lot of information available about their meeting, the author spends most of the book talking about the negative reaction some people had to modern art in the early 20th century. He fills out the book with anecdotes about the lives of various people who are tangent to the main story. The actual meeting is told in the last chapter of the book. I would recommend this book only to people who are fascinated by Harry Truman or love Modern Art of the 20th century.

[Carolyn Pulley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating! It is amazing how intertwined political history and the modern art movement are. There could be no more dissimilar men than Truman and Picasso; yet, their impact on our world culture cannot be minimized and, when they met, there was a mutual respect at the same time there was little agreement.
Like much nonfiction, parts of the narrative were dry. However, I learned so much as I learned to view both politics and art from this new perspective. I was also amazed at the parallels between American politics through the fifties and the politics of today. Then, modern art was considered subversive and many wanted it banned. Today it is books and personal rights.

[Kristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

The guy who authorized the use of nuclear weapons and the guy who painted Guernica have a nice little day together. This book utilizes that meeting to explain the political and artistic situation of the time period post-Truman presidency, but the meeting is pretty anticlimactic and doesn't occur until the last chapter. However, I love art history and really enjoyed listening to descriptions of Stieglitz's gallery & The Armory Show, etc. Nothing particularly revelatory but great background for those interested in art history, politics.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

[AshWood · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was more about the history of modern art and the politics behind it and against it, and less about Truman and Picasso. Their meeting really just ties together the two subjects, and I think that approach is actually really clever of the author. The entire thing was written and researched very well. I’m honestly surprised by how interesting I found it all to be. There are a lot of names and dates and facts that I know I won’t remember, but the sentiment of the book is still there. Thank you to NetGalley for the audio ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Tonya Rhoades · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this story is very timely with how things are today. A paragraph from the Epilogue explains: "Truman's meeting with Picasso was still important symbolically. In a world growing more divided by the minute - ideologically, socially, and culturally - the news that these two figures representing wildly divergent worldviews could spend a pleasant day sightseeing together was a welcomed respite from the strife that seemed to cover every inch of the front pages." The world might be better if it could learn from this lesson today.

[Daniel Kukwa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so happy to read this book. I'm always looking for new approaches and angles on history, and this was an event I didn't know about. Fascinating, full of people with contradictory approaches & feelings (especially Truman), and with a window on the past that continues to shed light on the present day...I couldn't ask for a better work of scholarship. Being exceptionally easy to read and concise are bonus points.

[David Petersen · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a quirky story. I quite enjoyed this meander thru history. I don't know much about modern art. I am in Truman's corner on that but I loved the way the author was able to give a history of such an abstract moment in history. I found the book to be extremely well written and insightful. I loved the little deviations through out the book. Like the history of ocean cruise vessels and the like. If you are into history this is a quick read to enjoy.

[Jeffrey Wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

“When Harry Met Pablo” is a delightful and insightful read that sheds light on a little-known historical episode. Matthew Algeo’s meticulous research and engaging storytelling bring to life the fascinating worlds of Harry Truman and Pablo Picasso, offering readers a unique perspective on the interplay between politics and art. Whether you are a history enthusiast or an art lover, this book promises to be both enlightening and entertaining, making it a worthy addition to your reading list.

[Theresa Ratti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very engaging and interesting on many levels - biography, art, politics, and travel. An introduction to many influential people involved with Harry Truman and Pablo Picasso and intriguing details about both these men. Informative overview of the Picasso’s art and of modern art in general. Spiced with details about Truman’s trip to Europe in 1958 when he met Picasso (planning, modes of travel, accommodations, itinerary, clothing, etc.). Everything is woven together into a very readable story.

[Jaime Andrews · Rating 4 out of 5]

My my my.
I majored in art in college and personally find Picasso overrated yet ridiculously interesting. That being said, I had to listen to this book.
The title is crazy considering "Harry & Pablo" don't even meet til the last chapter but I still enjoyed it.
Will I write home about it?
Nah.
Will I recommend it to other people with art or politics interests?
Yep.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found When Harry Met Pablo both entertaining and educational, just a delightful read. Algeo does a great job of drawing the reader into the story of this encounter between two great historic figures. I particularly enjoyed the author's biographical sketches of the many characters from the art world and the political sphere who influenced Truman and Picasso. I highly recommend it!

[Jean Warneke]

Kind of an odd book based on a one day meeting of 2 famous people, former US Pres Harry Truman and Pablo Picasso. A good description of a moment in time plus a brief history of the modern art movement in the US. Worth the time. I listened to the audio book. The reader was OK.

[Nate Hendrix · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have enjoyed every book that Matthew Algeo has written and this was no exception. I'm sad that after this I have no more of his to read. The history that Algeo chooses to write about is not what is taught in school. His books make me think of Paul Harvey's The Rest of the Story.

[Eileen McCauley · Rating 2 out of 5]

The longest section of the book was about the growth of support for modern art in the US but it focused on the "rich, old ladies" who provided the funds instead of the artists. I found that boring and skipped a lot. I enjoyed the scenes with Harry Truman. He was such an approachable person.