The Art Spy

A riveting and stylish saga set in Paris during World War II,THE ART SPY uncovers how an unlikely heroine infiltrated the Nazi leadership to save the cultural legacy of the West. On August 251944Rose Vallanda woman of quiet daringfound herself in a desperate position. From the windows of her beloved Jeu de Paume museumwhere she had worked and ultimately spiedshe could see the battle to liberate Paris thundering around her. The Jeu de Paumeco-opted by Nazi leadershipwas now the Germans’ final line of defense. Would the museum curator be killed before she could tell the truth–a story that would mean nothing less than saving humanity’s cultural inheritance? Based on troves of previously undiscovered documentsThe Art Spy chronicles the brave actions of the key Resistance spy in the heart of the Nazi’s art looting headquarters in the French capital. A veritable female Monuments ManValland hasuntil nowbeen written out of the annalsdespite bearing witness to history’s largest art theft. While Hitler was amassing stolen art for his future F├╝hrermuseumVallandhis undercover adversarysecretly worked to stop him. At every stage of World War IIValland was front and center. She came face to face with Reichsmarschall Hermann G├╢ringpassed crucial information to the Resistance networkput herself deliberately in harm’s way to protect the museum and her staffand faced death during the last hours of Liberation Day. She also singlehandedly provided information to stop the last train of looted artworks–bearing paintings by PicassoMonetCezanneGauguinBraqueDegasModiglianiand Toulouse-Lautrec–from leaving France. Vivid and atmosphericThe Art Spy moves from the glittering days of pre-War Parishome to geniuses of modern cultureincluding PicassoJosephine BakerCoco ChanelLe Corbusierand Frida Kahlothrough the tension-riddled cities and resorts of Europe on the eve of warto the harrowing years of the Nazi occupation of France when brave people such as Valland risked everything to fight monstrous evil. In the spirit of Hidden Figureswith the sweeping narrative of The Rape of Europa and the depth of The Resistance QuartetThe Art Spy is an extraordinary tale of a female hero whose courage and tenacity in a time of violence and terror is an inspiration for us all.