During World War II, one woman stood between Nazi Germany and one of history’s largest art thefts. Rose Valland, a quiet and scholarly museum curator, found herself in the midst of the Nazi’s Parisian art looting headquarters.

This is the previously untold story of Rose Valland, who passed crucial information to the Resistance, protected her museum and staff, and faced death during the last hours of Liberation Day. It is also the story of Alexandre Rosenberg, an art dealer’s son who is fighting his way to Paris with the Allies in the effort to liberate France.

THE ART SPY is a fascinating and impressively researched historical narrative. Filled with detail about the world of pre-War Paris and those who shaped Modernism, it creates a world and fills it out. The story drags at times from the weight of its research, but it is an important one and worth the read.

This is one of those rare nonfiction books that reads like a novel and keeps us riveted, and learning, to the last page. Rose Valland was the curator at Paris’ Jeu de Paume who watched WWll rage around her, and spied for the Resistance, from her beloved museum.

The Jeu de Paume was the final stop for art looted by the Nazis before it was shipped to Germany. Valland documented all the art that passed through the museum, where it was from, where it was shipped, who took it. Her success was partially assured by being a quiet, unassuming women easily overlooked by the Nazi goons around her. Through her efforts, as many as 60,000 works of art were restored to their owners after the war.

This was for me a fast-paced read slowed only by stopping to grab my phone and search for images of the art mentioned. I highly recommend it to fans of espionage, history, strong women, and art. I spent a week in Paris last winter, BEFORE I read the book, and while I saw some of the art in the book I knew nothing about the museum—guess I’ll have to go back.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC of “The Art Spy.”

🖼️ Set during WWII, this historical nonfiction follows Rose Valland, an inconspicuous museum curator at the Jeu de Paume museum in Paris as she plots to thwart the sale and destruction of priceless works of art by the Nazis during the German occupation of France.

While I appreciate art and art history and ultimately enjoyed this work overall, it read a lot like someone’s thesis dissertation. It initially progressed very slowly and was difficult to follow due to the overwhelming amount of names of people and titles of artwork that were relatively unfamiliar to someone with limited knowledge of art history. It struck me largely as a documentation of which Germans stole which works of art rather than what Rose did to prevent the theft. Rose’s primary role seemed to be to document where the works of art were going, in the event that they could one day be returned to their rightful owners. Though I’m sure her experience was harrowing, that ultimately didn’t seem to be the focus of this work.

For me, the highlight of this book was really the parallel story line of Free French soldier Alexandre Rosenberg. He played a direct role in the liberation of France and the confiscation of stolen artwork destined for Germany, some of which belonged to his own father.

Check this one out if you’re an art history aficionado with a specific interest in WWII. Pairs well with champagne, brie cheese, and French bread.

The Art Spy was a fascinating read and an incredible true story. It saddens me that the story of Rose Valland. an unlikely heroine, is not better known. Working as, essentially an intern/curator, at the Jeu de Paume museum in Paris, Rose was mostly unpaid because she was a woman, yet was given tremendous responsibilities. Yet this young woman put herself on the line for the artwork around her. Taking place during the Nazi occupation of Paris during WWII, Rose's passion and love of art and her unique position in the museum allowed her to document the artwork that was being seized by the Nazi's, with much risk to herself.

I enjoyed Michelle Young's telling of Rose Valland's heroic efforts and learned an incredible amount about, not only Rose but about this period in history. As someone who considers herself a history buff, Rose's story and deeds were new to me, as were many of the tales of greed and thievery inflicted upon the wealthy Jewish families in Paris and France. We all know the stories of the atrocities the Nazi's wreaked upon the Jews all over Europe during the war but this brought new light to just how vicious and vindictive many fellow frenchman were to their brethren who had fled for their lives.

Thank you, Michelle Young, for bringing the story of Rose and her heroism to light.

The Art Spy by Michelle Young is a fun and informative look at one woman’s mission during WW2 in Paris to protect art and culture in the city of lights. Young allows readers to view war time Paris and its people and culture and why the mission was of the upmost importance to the people of the city.

Rose Valland was a true hero and one that has gone heralded up to now for her tireless work to minimize the looting from her beloved Jeu de Paume museum in Paris during WWII. She worked for years, mostly unpaid (pure and simple discrimination even for those times) and did her best as the Nazis hauled off the best works of the museum. Rose Valland's actions helped the Monument Men at the end of the war recover so many pieces. Three cheers for Rose - really amazing!

As a reader of the spy genre, I think the title over sells the actual feel of the book considerably. The author spends a great deal of time covering what was happening during WWII, concurrently with the looting of the art of both personal collections and museums such as the Louvre and the Jeu de Paume where Rose worked. I really enjoy history from this time period but have to admit I was a bit disappointed as I went in thinking it was going to be more of a story about an unheard of "typical" spy helping prevent the Nazis from their despicable thieving. Young did an amazing job researching, particularly the private collection theft, such as the Rosenberg's.

Thank you Net Galley, Harper-Collins Publishers, and the author, Michelle Young, for an advanced readers copy.

This was the popular history I didn't know I wanted (or needed) right now. Fascinating, highly readable, and feels highly relevant for right now.

This was a very instructional sounding novel. It was very informative but read more like a textbook than a novel. The information was interesting but I had a difficult time getting into the book.

The Art Spy is an well-written account of the efforts of WWII France to protect its artworks. Centered in Paris, the story uses the life of one woman, Rose Valland, as she navigates both the French art world and the experiences of WWII. It is an engaging book for people interested in that time period and the happenings in art and society.
For me, while clearly a good book, this dragged some due to all of the individuals in play. It was sometimes a slog to get through the details about all the folks involved, and I forgot why some people were included in the story. I think the book would read more smoothly with some of the extraneous people's arcs removed and filled with more information about the art and the primary "characters."
That said, I thought Rose was interesting and the fact that she was also lesbian made for an interesting read. Highly recommend for art and/or WWII enthusiasts, but not so much for people less interested in minute details like me.

On August 25, 1944, Rose Valland, a woman of quiet daring, found herself in a desperate position. From the windows of her beloved Jeu de Paume museum, where she had worked and ultimately spied, she could see the battle to liberate Paris thundering around her. The Jeu de Paume, co-opted by Nazi leadership, was 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?

It has crossed my mind quite a few times while reading WWII fiction, how did so much art disappear? Well, thanks to Rose Valland, the world has access to some of the greatest art of all time.

Rose was fearless and determined to save what art she could. She fought and struggled against unspeakable odds to stop the pillage by the Nazis. And believe me, she had quite a few close calls with death.

This is narrated by Erin Bennett. And let me tell you, she had quite the pronunciations. She must be part French because she sounded like it was her first language.

Need a true story which will have you thankful for someone you never knew…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this audiobook from the publisher for a honest review.

This non-fiction book gave me another view into the chaos of World Was II. The stress upon art archivists and art dealers to protect century old artwork from the Nazis was real. The care taken to try to hide Art Masterpieces was amazing. This particular story about one woman's determination to protect art is fabulous.

'In the madness at the Jeu de Paume, you were either trying to be a serious art historian or trying to steal the art'.

Rose Valland came from a humble, working-class background but it was clear from a young age that she was meant for brighter things, working within the world of art. Despite ultimately being blocked from her dream role as a curator at the Louvre, she proved her devotion by working for years as a volunteer at the Jeu de Paume. Her tireless effort was never more challenged than when Paris fell to the Nazis in WW2. However, Rose did not cower but campaigned to be left as a custodian of the museum, and actively worked with the Resistance to document the systematic looting and theft of great works of art throughout the war. She somehow even managed to survive multiple interrogations regarding stolen artwork, by the culprits looking to shirk the blame for their deeds. 'She was a one-woman operation - spy, art historian, building superintendent, and archivist all at once...'.

'The Art Spy' is a well-researched book - both in terms of depth and breadth - on the systematic pillaging, theft, and destruction of art during WW2. Although the story pivots on Rose Valland’s courage in documenting the bald-faced looting, despite increasing threats against her life, the Art Spy gives a real synopsis of both the fall and liberation of France. Its short chapters keep the history pacy and it is a very readable narrative non-fiction story. Although it would have been nice to glean more details on some of her feats and day-to-day life of working under the scrutiny of some high-ranking Nazi officers, I appreciate that there was a lot of information to try and cover off. I can't believe that approx 650,000 works of art were stolen during this time and that there could be as many as 100,000 works yet to be found. A job that Rose continued to work on, well after the war.

I love continuing to learn of facets that comprised WW2. I never realised that art became such a pivot point throughout the years of Paris's occupation. Anyone who enjoys women's history and learning about the WW2 years, will enjoy reading this book.

'In a war where resistance took many forms, Rose...fought to retain the humanity of those whose possessions, family histories, identities and sometimes their lives were violently stolen from them'.

This was such a good book; Rose Valland is such an interesting character! I have read a few books about the Nazis obsession with Art during World War II, and the people who did their best to protect what they could.

There is so much about the Monuments Men, but there isn’t much about the Woman as well, so I enjoyed learning about them too.

This was a really intriguing book, and I enjoyed it!

This was a fascinating and an unbelievably well researched novel. I knew about the theft of art during WW2, but nothing about the logistics and the art protector Rose Valland. She had a pivitol role in tracking stolen artwork while bravely dealing with Nazi leaders and also aiding the resistance. I gained a better understanding artwork theft during this time period that was sometimes sold to benefit war efforts or for personal gain. This is a must read for historical fiction readers as well as those who appreciate artwork.

If The Monuments Men got a movie, The Art Spy deserves a whole mini-series!

If you love historical nonfiction that reads like a high-stakes spy thriller with a whip-smart heroine, The Art Spy is about to become your new favorite book!

Yes, it’s meticulously researched and full of so much fascinating historical context. But it’s also rich in drama, tension, and grit! Rose Valland was a woman who was overlooked, underestimated, and undervalued—until she changed the course of history.

Michelle Young's writing brings her story to life while also painting a vivid picture of wartime Paris and the shadowy art world that thrived behind enemy lines!

It’s wild to think most of us have never heard of Rose Valland, especially considering she stood at the epicenter of one of the largest art theft operations in human history and helped recover thousands of pieces post-war.

The Art Spy is a tribute to the power of one woman’s quiet courage in the face of monstrous evil. It’s also a stark reminder that cultural erasure is a weapon of war, and that the people who fight back—even silently, even without recognition—deserve to have their stories told.

Whether you're a lover of WWII history, a fan of strong women protagonists, or someone who enjoys nonfiction that reads like a novel, this one belongs on your TBR. I finished this book feeling both enraged and inspired—and I immediately went looking for more about Rose Valland. You probably will too.

Set in Paris during WWII when Rose Valland infiltrated Nazi leadership to save many treasured artworks, this book introduced me to a completely unknown heroine and her part in the War.
Rose worked at the Jeu de Paume Museum as an unpaid curator where she spied on the Nazis throughout the war. She passed the information onto the French Resistance as they confiscated many art treasures.
Rose also catalogued many of these art works and duplicated the inventories to help the Monuments Men recover these masterpieces.
The author 's writing was compelling and she added extensive notes and photos of Rose and the art that she saved.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher and was thoroughly enlightened by it. The opinIons expressed are my own. and I am grateful to have read this book about this extraordinary woman

The Art Spy is a biography about an art historian in the 1930's and 40's of Paris who had a key position in safeguarding important art works before and during World War II. It was interesting to learn about Rose's early life and the difficulty and prejudice that she faced. As a woman growing up in the late 1970's and 80's, it was an entirely different culture from mine in the US. This book would be an important read for anyone who is interested in either art history or World War II history. While I have a passing interest in both, this book was too detailed to hold my interest. The author is a professor of architecture has degrees in architecture and art history. This book would be best suited to someone with that level of knowledge, not the casual reader. I was given a complementary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.

Well-written and fascinating story about a brave Frenchwoman who risked her life to save artistic treasures during World War II. I wish Michelle every single solitary bit of success with this one. She richly deserves it for this wonderful read.

Rose Valland, a well educated art historian is the unpaid curator at the Jeu de Paume Museum in Paris. She initially took a position as an unpaid secretary simply so she could be near the art she so dearly loves. As time goes on, she is given more responsibilities and eventually assumes the duties of curator during World War II. Art is everything to Rose, and despite being quiet and reserved, she finds herself engaging in espionage to ensure her beloved art survives the Nazi regime.

I was familiar with Rose Valland before reading The Art Spy but found this telling of her story to be riveting. It was well written and the pacing was excellent. I love when nonfiction is written in a more narrative format and this book nails it.

The Art Spy: The Extraordinary Untold Tale of WWII Resistance Hero Rose Valland was an incredible tale. The author, Michelle Young, states that she believes she was destined to come across the story of Rose Valland. She attributes that her initial discovery of this incredible woman was in her reading of the fascinating book <i>Goring's Man in Paris</i> by Jonahan Petropoulos, amazed that she had not heard of her, particularly since she read almost exclusively books on female Resistance spies from World War II. Michelle Young relates that her lifelong passion for World War II was sparked by her own family history, which included her grandfather's survival of the bombing in Hiroshima. She states that she felt a deep kinship with Rose realizing that she had been following in her footsteps since she was a child both studying art history.

The Art Sp epic saga is set in Paris during World War II when an unlikely heroine, Rose Valland, infiltrated the Nazi leadership to save the world's most treasured masterpieces. On August 25, 1944, Rose Villand found herself in a desparate position as she gazed through the windows of her beloved Jeu de Paume museum where she had worked and spied on the Nazis throughout the war. She could see that the battle to liberate Paris taking place around her. The Jue de Paume had become the German's final line of defense against the allied troops. Would her years of spying and keeping scrupulous notes about the seizure of the many works of art be lost to history? And this did not come without personal cost as she continued to pass crucial information to Resistance network and putting herself deliberately in harm's way to protect the museum and its staff during the final hours of Liberation Day. But at the same time, a young Free French soldier fighting under General Leclerc was fighting his way to Paris with the Allied forces battling to liberate France. Alexandre's father, Paul Rosenberg, was the exclusive art dealer for Picasso, Matisse, George Braque, and Frida Kahlo. The Nazis had seized everything from them and their family--their art collection, their gallery and their home in Paris. This beautiful and atmospheric book moves from the glittering days before the war where the geniuses of modern culture were gathering. With the likes of James Joyce, Ernest Hemingway, and F Scott Fitzgerald wiling away their time at Sylvia Beach's Shakespeare & Company on the Left Bank. Pre-War Paris was home to all of the artistic and literary geniuses, including Picasso, Coco Chanel, and Frida Kahlo. And this book gives the heroic story of one woman using her talents to infiltrate the Nazi network and catalog the art work that she was entrusted to protect, an inspiration for all of us.

And I would like to thank Net Galley, Harper-Collins Publishers, and the author, Michelle Young, for an advanced readers copy. Thank you.