THE ART SPY The Extraordinary Untold Tale of WWII Resistance Hero Rose Valland

Erin Bennett narrates the story of Rose Valland, a curator at the Jeu de Paume museum in Paris during WWII. Valland kept track of documents stating provenance and locations of artworks that were looted by the Nazis. She remained in her job by convincing Nazi higher-ups that she was merely a lowly clerk and not a threat to the Germans' pillaging. Her dedication and precise recordkeeping allowed many of the stolen art pieces to be recovered after the war. A secondary story focuses on art dealer Paul Rosenberg and his son, Alexandre, whose art collection was a particular target of the Nazis. Bennett's matter-of-fact delivery misses the strong feeling and underlying outrage felt by those who fought the Nazis. However, her delivery is engaging, intelligent, and informative. S.J.H. © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2025]