It's the early 1940s and Maria Lagana works as assistant to the beleaguered film producer Artie Feldman. A zealous opponent of Hitler, Artie and the studio he helms, Mercury Pictures, have fallen under the disapproving scrutiny of a Congress keen to stay out of the war. In this moving, heartwarming novel, the dialogue between Maria and Artie exudes a screwball energy reminiscent of the great screen pairings of the 1930s. The author also explores the role that Hollywood plays in shaping America's understanding of itself, and how this myth-making threatens fascists.