American-born entertainer Josephine Baker is considered by many to be the first Black superstar. Prior to the Second World War, she was one of the most glamorous and highly paid female performers. But when the Nazis occupied her home city of Paris, she was banned from the stage.

Instead of returning to America, Josephine vowed to stay and fight. Overnight, she went from acclaimed artiste to Resistance spy.

Through her wartime service, she became a hero of three nations: the USA, the land of her birth; France, her adopted home; and Britain, the country from which she took her orders as one of its most closely-guarded special agents.

In this talk to mark the release of his new book, Damien Lewis will highlight how Josephine Baker’s mark on history goes far beyond the confines of the stage and screen.

Damien Lewis is a Sunday Times No 1 bestselling author. His books have been translated into 40 languages worldwide. For 20 years, he worked as a war correspondent, reporting from conflict zones across Africa, South America, the Middle East and the Far East, and winning numerous awards. His previous publications include ‘Churchill’s Secret Warriors’, ‘Hunting the Nazi Bomb’, ‘SAS Nazi Hunters’, ‘SAS Band of Brothers’ and ‘SAS Great Escapes’.

The Flame of Resistance: American Beauty, French Hero, British Spy