The Art Spy: The Extraordinary Untold Tale of WWII Resistance Hero Rose Valland

Architecture professor Young shines a spotlight on unsung hero Rose Valland, an art historian who worked tirelessly during WWII to protect tens of thousands of pieces of art from being seized or destroyed by the Nazis, and whose meticulous records enabled the French to reclaim looted works after the war. When the Nazis invaded France, Valland was a curator at Paris’s prestigious Jeu de Paume Museum, an unusual position for a woman to hold. Young details how Valland used her demure appearance to her favor; the Nazis saw no need to hide their actions or conversations from a lowly, nonthreatening museum employee. If they only knew! Valland’s more personal reasons for wishing to fly beneath the radar are also detailed here. This fascinating untold history holds appeal for both art lovers and history buffs.