Agent Josephine, American beauty, French hero, British spy

by Damian Lewis.

Reviewed by Ron Ebert

The New Yorker review of this book on August 15, 2022 begins “the Negro, historically, has always been in the espionage business“. An unexpected insight  that rewards the reader in reading and understanding this overly long but fascinating book.

Josephine Baker left the United States for France at the age of 19 to escape terrible discrimination and was welcomed as an exotic dancer and singer by a nation on the edge of war. She quickly became the most famous entertainers in France, opening her own Cabaret , strolling with her cheetah wearing a rope of diamonds, and entertaining the well  to do. 

The book is not a biography, but rather a richly detailed story of her role as a secret spy during World War II. She used her fame and beauty to collect extremely important information and to transmit that data to the allied forces. Her role was so important that only a year ago she was inducted into the Pantheon , the first woman of color to be so honored.

The author has written 24 other books and this one smacks of formula writing and poor editing. Nevertheless it is worth a read if only to discover and honor this brave and glamorous woman who risked her life over and over and was hunted by the Nazis throughout the war - even having her picture on the cover of a propaganda leaflet issued by Joseph Goebbels.