A Woman of No Importance: The Untold Story of the American Spy Who Helped Win World War II
Product ID: 184021087
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In 1942, the Gestapo sent out an urgent transmission: She is the most dangerous of all Allied spies. We must find and destroy her. This spy was Virginia Hall, a young American woman--rejected from the foreign service because of her gender and her prosthetic leg--who talked her way into the spy organization deemed Churchill's ministry of ungentlemanly warfare, and, before the United States had even entered the war, became the first woman to deploy to occupied France. Virginia Hall was one of the greatest spies in American history, yet her story remains untold. Just as she did in Clementine, Sonia Purnell uncovers the captivating story of a powerful, influential, yet shockingly overlooked heroine of the Second World War. At a time when sending female secret agents into enemy territory was still strictly forbidden, Virginia Hall came to be known as the Madonna of the Resistance, coordinating a network of spies to blow up bridges, report on German troop movements, arrange equipment drops for Resistance agents, and recruit and train guerilla fighters. Even as her face covered WANTED posters throughout Europe, Virginia refused order after order to evacuate. She finally escaped with her life in a grueling hike over the Pyrenees into Spain, her cover blown, and her associates all imprisoned or executed. But, adamant that she had more lives to save, she dove back in as soon as she could, organizing forces to sabotage enemy lines and back up Allied forces landing on Normandy beaches. Told with Purnell's signature insight and novelistic flare, A Woman of No Importance is the breathtaking story of how one woman's fierce persistence helped win the war. Review: Great READ - The book is amazing and a fun read. 100% a must. Review: A timely lesson for today's foreign policy makers. - A searing account of World War II and Virginia Hall, an American woman who had a leg prosthesis but nevertheless was able to join the French resistance fighters. Well documented and has interviews with survivors.
| Best Sellers Rank | #476,232 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #220 in Historical France Biographies #4,232 in Women's Biographies #4,999 in Family Relationship (Books) |
| Customer Reviews | 4.7 out of 5 stars 114 Reviews |
L**Y
Great READ
The book is amazing and a fun read. 100% a must.
S**K
A timely lesson for today's foreign policy makers.
A searing account of World War II and Virginia Hall, an American woman who had a leg prosthesis but nevertheless was able to join the French resistance fighters. Well documented and has interviews with survivors.
B**R
Lovely book
I liked this book very much. Someone in a book club suggested a fictionalized version of women spies during WWII and I suggested we read about the real thing after seeing a review of this book. Well researched, well written, and amazing to review the role of women in society and the obstacles they faced. I recommend this book to anyone who loves reading about WWII.
A**R
She gave her all literally! But never got the credit due her.
Excellent book!! An outstanding woman!! With people like her and her team and all the others it’s no wonder we won the war! Thank you for your service! It’s just not enough to say.
R**R
Fascinating!
I'd never heard about this woman before the book came out. She was an incredible hero, and more tributes should be paid to her. The book is well written and you learn more about the woman herself and not just the deeds she performed. That's rare in these types of biographies and it's refreshing. Brilliant author to have gathered all this information.
J**N
Gréât depiction.
I was not familiar with this woman and find that a shame! If she were alive, I’d find her and thank her for her service!!
L**Z
Fascinating Story
I’m reading this now. It’s a compelling true story that gives an in depth portrayer of a unique individual and a picture of events in WW2. It is also a story about sex discrimination in the 1940s, 50s and 60s.
N**Y
Good read
Very enjoyable book about an extremely brave woman
B**E
Great read
A book so full of surprising information on life in France behind the lines during WW II. A good story for anyone wanting to learn more about France under the German occupation, and even more interesting to learn of the role of an American woman.
T**Y
Incredible spy
An incredible spy who made a difference during the war. Brave, resourceful and dedicated. At every turn she made the Nazis lives difficult.
L**.
Highly recommend.
This is a gripping story that I couldn’t put down.
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