A spellbinding biography of Albert Bard, one of New York City’s greatest civic activists, laced with a fascinating twist of espionage. While Bard was helping to preserve the city — even fighting against the ‘power broker’ himself Robert Moses — he was privately dealing with an international scandal. Anthony Wood excavates a most extraordinary story from the shadows of history, not only rescuing a forgotten figure of American culture but discovering new and even provocative new details about his life. Servant of Beauty provides a captivating snapshot of public action and private lives in the mid 20th century.

— Greg Young, Writer, Co-creator and Host of the Bowery Boys Podcast


Anthony C. Wood not only provides a thorough history of pioneering preservationist Albert Bard whose advocacy ultimately created the New York City’s Landmarks Preservation Commission, but he uncovers the secret story of a gay man whose life had to be hidden from all of his colleagues. Wood adds an important layer to our understanding of the character of early preservation activists by making tangible the previously invisible life of a prominent civic leader.

— Andrew S. Dolkart, Co-Founder, NYC LGBT Historic Sites Project