A portrait of Stephanie von Hohenlohe (1891-1972), notorious as a secret go-between and even a professional blackmailer. Despite being the illegitimate daughter of a Jewish parents, Stephanie always claimed to be of pure Aryan descent, and began a career of social climbing from a young age.

She acquired a title through marriage to an Austrian nobleman, became a columnist and mistress for Lord Rothermere, then infiltrated the Reichs Chancellery itself to get to know Hitler personally. Soon enough, Hitler would begin to employ her on secret diplomatic missions, for which she was awarded the Golden Insignia and given a castle in Austria.

After chasing her then lover to the USA and at the point of being expelled as a spy, she began another affair with the head of the US immigration authority to avoid deportation. It was only after the Second World War that she returned to Germany, where she began a successful media career.

A tale of lovers and manipulation, cleverness and deceit, there is no dull moment in Stephanie von Hohenlohe's dubious rise, as expertly told here by acclaimed German author Martha Schad.