You might not know her name, but Rose Valland helped save part of the soul of Europe. And she did it while the world’s most ruthless art thieves—Nazis in their knee-high boots and pressed gray coats—stormed through Paris, stealing and crating up the cultural treasures of Jewish families and European museums alike.
Michelle Young’s new book, “The Art Spy: The Extraordinary Untold Tale of WWII Resistance Hero Rose Valland,” tells the story of a quiet French curator who spied on the Nazis from the inside. For years, Valland worked at the Jeu de Paume in Paris, a museum that, from 1940 to 1944, became a notorious holding center for art looted by the Nazis. Valland pretend to be nothing more than a dutiful museum worker while secretly documenting the largest art theft in history. She did this while surrounded by men who would have executed her without hesitation if they knew what she was really doing.
Young will be in St. Louis on Monday, May 19, for a conversation with Jessica Fischoff, Director of Literary Arts at the St. Louis Jewish Community Center. The talk will take place at the talk at the St. Louis County Library’s Clark Family Branch.
If you’ve read the book, you’ll get a chance to hear about the research and the real-life espionage that went into this incredible story. If you haven’t, that’s okay too—this is a piece of history that stands on its own. Here’s what you should know before you go to the event.
What’s the story about?
Rose Valland wasn’t just a passive observer. She was a resistor, a spy and a tactical genius. Her work helped the Allies recover tens of thousands of stolen masterpieces after the war. Without her, much of Europe’s cultural heritage—from Old Masters to modern icons—might still be lost.
“Valland’s story is a reminder that not all resistance is loud or violent,” Fischoff said. “Sometimes it’s a quiet act of defiance, a decision to bear witness, and a refusal to look away.”
Fischoff added that Young’s approach to telling this story captured the layered complexity of Valland’s mission. “Michelle Young doesn’t just recount history—she dives deep into the personal stakes, the small, dangerous choices, and the moral clarity that defined Valland’s resistance,” Fischoff said. “She reveals how one person, working quietly in the shadows, can change the course of history.”
Why it matters to the Jewish community
The Nazis weren’t just after pretty paintings. They systematically targeted Jewish collections as part of their campaign to erase Jewish culture. Families like the Rothschilds, Seligmanns and David-Weills lost not just their homes and fortunes, but pieces of their history. Valland’s efforts, detailed in Young’s book, were crucial in helping Jewish families reclaim their stolen legacies.
“Valland’s story resonates deeply with a Jewish audience because it centers on the preservation of Jewish cultural heritage during one of history’s darkest moments,” Fischoff said. “She risked her life to quietly document and help recover thousands of works of art looted by the Nazis—many of them stolen from Jewish families. Her bravery ensured that pieces of Jewish history, identity, and memory weren’t lost to erasure.”
Why this talk matters now
Art restitution isn’t just a historical problem. Jewish families around the world are still fighting to recover pieces taken during the Holocaust. Just in recent months, the Jewish Light published a story about St. Louis family fighting to reclaim art stolen by the Nazis.
“We hope audiences come away with a renewed understanding of how fragile—and vital—cultural memory is,” Fischoff said. “In an age where truth is often contested and history is politicized, Valland’s story is a reminder of the power individuals have to protect and uphold cultural identity.
Go deeper
If you want to show up even more prepared, you can check out the adapted excerpt from Young’s book, “The Art Spy,” recently published in Sotheby’s Magazine.
“Valland’s story is a call to action: cultural identity can be lost in a moment, but recovering and protecting it takes relentless effort,” Fischoff said. “Her legacy reminds us that cultural heritage is more than art or objects—it is memory, belonging, and truth.”
Event Details
What: Michelle Young discusses The Art Spy
When: Monday, May 19, 7 p.m.
Where: St. Louis County Library, Clark Family Branch, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd.
Tickets: Free, but seating is first-come, first-served.
