Mission to Paris

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In the late summer of 1938, as Europe teeters on the brink of war, Hollywood star Fredric Stahl travels to Paris to film for Paramount France. Unbeknownst to him, the Nazis have targeted him as a tool for their political warfare against France, employing bribery and intimidation to undermine French morale. However, Stahl is horrified by the Nazi regime's persecution of Jews and intellectuals, and he secretly joins an informal spy network operating from the American embassy in Paris. From acclaimed author Alan Furst comes a gripping tale filled with romance and rich characters, including the German Baroness von Reschke, deeply entangled in Nazi operations; assassins Herbert and Lothar; Russian actress and spy Olga Orlova; and Hungarian diplomat Count Janos Polanyi. The novel also features the vibrant French cast of Stahl’s film and the captivating women in his life, Kiki de Saint-Ange and émigré Renate Steiner. At its core, the narrative celebrates Paris, the heart of Europe, with its lively streets, bistros, and the resilient Parisians who savor life amidst looming darkness. Furst masterfully captures both the historical turmoil and the enduring spirit of those who dared to resist.