A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERChosen as a BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR by NPR, the New York Public Library, Amazon, the Seattle Times, the Washington Independent Review of Books, PopSugar, the Minneapolis Star Tribune, BookBrowse, the Spectator, and the Times of LondonWinner of the Plutarch Award for Best Biography“Excellent…This book is as riveting as any thriller, and as hard to put down.” — The New … Biography
“Excellent…This book is as riveting as any thriller, and as hard to put down.” — The New York Times Book Review
“A compelling biography of a masterful spy, and a reminder of what can be done with a few brave people — and a little resistance.” – NPR
“A meticiulous history that reads like a thriller.” – Ben Macintyre
A never-before-told story of Virginia Hall, the American spy who changed the course of World War II, from the author of Clementine.
In 1942, the Gestapo sent out an urgent transmission: “She is the most dangerous of all Allied spies. We must find and destroy her.”
The target in their sights was Virginia Hall, a Baltimore socialite who talked her way into Special Operations Executive, the spy organization dubbed Winston Churchill’s “Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare.” She became the first Allied woman deployed behind enemy lines and–despite her prosthetic leg–helped to light the flame of the French Resistance, revolutionizing secret warfare as we know it.
Virginia established vast spy networks throughout France, called weapons and explosives down from the skies, and became a linchpin for the Resistance. Even as her face covered wanted posters and a bounty was placed on her head, Virginia refused order after order to evacuate. She finally escaped through a death-defying hike over the Pyrenees into Spain, her cover blown. But she plunged back in, adamant that she had more lives to save, and led a victorious guerilla campaign, liberating swathes of France from the Nazis after D-Day.
Based on new and extensive research, Sonia Purnell has for the first time uncovered the full secret life of Virginia Hall–an astounding and inspiring story of heroism, spycraft, resistance, and personal triumph over shocking adversity. A Woman of No Importance is the breathtaking story of how one woman’s fierce persistence helped win the war.
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What an absolutely fascinating history! What a remarkable woman! I researched the Resistance before writing one of my novels, but that was long ago and I don’t recall coming across information about Virginia Hall. Now I understand why. Students of WWII history and fans of WWII fiction should take the time to read this book. It is well worth it.
I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator, Juliet Stevenson, was wonderful.
PS It was a Bookbub recommendation that caused me to read this book. I hope my review will do so for others!
The biography of Virginia Hall, a spy/secret agent in Nazi occupied France during WW2 is one of the best non-fiction books I have ever read. Virginia Hall was fearless, a hero, incredibly good at what she was doing and a fascinating woman. This biography does her justice.
Gripping biography of WWII spy and Resistance fighter, Virginia Hall, who along with all the obstacles facing a woman of her time period engaged in clandestine work during a war, was missing one of her legs below the knee. The writing is positively cinematic and the tale is very, very exciting so I’m glad to see that there is a movie coming out about her. Hall was a very interesting woman and I hope the film does her life justice. Read the book first though, because it’s quite good.
Terrific story of an American woman who set up networks within occupied France to help the Allies. Virginia Hall exhibited enormous bravery and toughness. Very good book to portray the progress of WWII in Europe. Carefully researched. Interesting to read. Wish I could have met her.
This is an extraordinary true story about Virginia Hall, an American spy who participated in the French resistance during WW II after she was rejected by the American and British spy networks. A thrilling and inspirational book about the work of a woman who did what needed to be done to help win the war, with little commendation or credit.
Virginia Hall’s story is absolutely amazing. It is both frightening and enlightening. I cannot imagine her fortitude given her physical limitations and wartime pressures. Her initiative and cunning were admirable. The undying loyalty of the French resistance fighters who worked with Ms. Hall proved to me that she was not only a good spy, but a good leader.
Her humility in avoiding accolades for all that she accomplished was probably partially due to her devotion to the confidentiality of her spying efforts. However, that humility undoubtedly did not serve her well in her post-war career, as she clearly was not given work that reflected her incredible achievements throughout WWII. Further hindering her post-war career was gender discrimination as women, no matter what their war-time contribution were expected to return to homemaking.
Thanks to author Sonia Purnell persistence in researching the limited records and pursuing first-hand interviews with relatives, readers can learn about an unsung and mostly unknown American hero of WWII.
Overall, the audiobook narration was good, however, I didn’t care for the decision to sometimes change the voice of the narrator to reflect a direct quote from one of the characters.
I had no idea… What amazing courage, fortitude, intelligence, discernment… I could go on. Virginia Hall will astound you.
This non-fiction thriller tells the story of Virginia Hall, the Baltimore socialite who left her comfortable life behind to go under cover for the British Special Operations in France during WWII. Hall spoke many languages, became an expert at outrunning the Nazis, despite her prosthetic leg, and led many guerilla operations in her role as a spy behind enemy lines. After the war, she worked for the CIA. Wow!
World War II occupied France. An utterly brave American woman spy with a prosthetic leg. How many lives can she save before the Nazis catch up with her? This is stunning nonfiction. Read it, and cheer for the heroic Virginia Hall as she risks, and risks, all.
Beautiful examples for us all.
A wonderful story told as a biography. The woman and her achievements are very impressive but the tale is told in the 3rd person so it doesn’t have quite the same impact. Still well worth reading.
A great read.
This was a very interesting story with tons of research on historical events which I enjoyed but it wasn’t really a “story.” There were so many names and group names and bureaus, etc. that it was hard to keep them straight.
I learned an amazing amount about Virginia Hall whom I never had heard of before reading this book. She was a brilliant amazingly courageous woman.
A wonderful insight into a world at war and the sacrifices made for freedom. An amazing story of a woman would not accept no as an answer from those who did not think a woman could do spy work. She accomplished more compared to her male counter parts and contributed far more to the success of the Allied forces in World War II. She was not nor has not been recognized as she properly should have been for her significant achievements
not in depth. No development of incidents in story.Just short generalities
A good book about a fascinating woman!
Great historical read but a little too much of a history text. Still very enjoyable and glad to have learned of this remarkable woman’s story.
I marveled at the power and strength of this woman and the individuals she worked with and helped. Amazing!
Very, very interesting and engaging book. The person with whom the book involved, agent Virginia Hunt, was an amazing person in terms of smarts, capability, guts, and persistence. Recommended read.