The Florence Sisters
A war-torn city. A stolen masterpiece. Two lives in the balance…
Italy, 1940. With Florence on the cusp of war, Il Scorpione, the no-nonsense Englishwomen of the city, find their genteel livelihoods under grave threat by the approach of the Nazis. Tea rooms and bookshops are closed by the Fascists, and the women are forced to join the war effort.
Desperate to help in any way that she can, Angelina Leone, expert art-historian and the half-Italian niece of Il Scorpione’s founder makes a deal with the devil. To guarantee her beloved Aunt Agatha, the only family she has, safe passage across the city, Lina must authenticate the art ruthlessly stolen from Jewish families. But when she comes across a priceless portrait – one that she cannot bear to see seized by the Germans – Lina declares the masterpiece a fake. But in doing so, will she set off a chain of events with consequences more deadly than she could ever imagine …
REVIEW
An exploration of the art world in Florence during WW2 in which the Nazis are trying to loot the treasures of Florence for their private collections. This story shows the effort that went in to protecting and saving the masterpieces of Italian art in the Uffizi gallery and elsewhere, and the risks some women took to preserve them. Lina is an engaging heroine, but I had a soft spot for her formidable aunt and the other ladies of The English Lades Art Appreciation Society who gave up their time and loyalty under considerable duress. It is unusual to read about older women and the eye-opening risks they took in their contribution to the war effort.
There is a nice tension between Lina and the owner of a gallery, Edoardo, who may or may not be a Nazi collaborator. Lina has to navigate this uncertainty whilst slowly falling for this enigmatic dealer, whose reputation means that he cannot be trusted.
Based on real events, this is a suspenseful novel of bravery and determination in the face of Nazi greed. Tessa Harris gives us a world of heightened passions – the beauty of art, a constant sense of danger, and a desperate romance that simmers beneath it all. Highly recommended.
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