THE VANISHED COLLECTION

Narrator Allyson Johnson brings just the right amount of warmth and sympathy to this intriguing memoir by Pauline Baer de Perignon, a French woman who sought to uncover the truth about what happened to her great-grandfather's valuable art collection during WWII. Julian Strauss was a prominent Jewish art collector when the Nazis began seizing art in 1942. By chance, Pauline finds out that Strauss may not have sold his pieces in 1932, as was believed. While not especially knowledgeable about art but enticed by the mystery, she sets out on a fascinating journey into her family's past. Johnson's clear voice is punctuated by French and provides subtle voices for various family members and curators. When the search becomes personal, Johnson's steady pacing keeps listeners rooting for Pauline's ultimate success. J.E.S. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine [Published: JANUARY 2022]