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 a fascinating story! Sonia Purnell skillfully takes you deep into the covert operations Virginia Hall led in Nazi-occupied France. Readers will find this tale of her cunning and courage riveting.
This true account opens one’s mind to the heroism and determination, against all odds, of how a single being really can make a huge positive contribution despite unbelievable challenges.
This fascinating biography of Virginia Hamilton almost reads like a novel. Virginia, an American woman from Maryland, went to Europe in her early years where she fell in love with Paris and France. She first worked for the State Department, mainly in typical female roles as typist and secretary. When WWII broke out, she became an ambulance driver in France, but escaped to Spain when the French surrendered. She made her way to London where she was recruited for the SOE, the Special Operations Executive, the spy organization dubbed Winston Churchill’s “Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare.”
She spent most of the war years in France where she set up spy networks, worked with the French resistance, and escaped with her life over the Pyranees in November. Later she moved to the fledgling American OSS (Office of Strategic Services) America’s version of the SOE and forerunner of the CIA. Toward the end of the war, she ran a resistance cell engaged in guerilla warfare against the Germans.
Virginia was a remarkable woman whose exploits read like a James Bond novel. Highly recommended for fans of biography and history.
This is not a recommendation for a children’s book, but for an incredible read about a woman who took a tragedy in her personal life and somehow forged the will to make a tremendous difference during World War II. I was not familiar with her life efforts prior to reading the book. It’s an amazing story, and well worth your time.
A well-told story of a little known WW II effort by a remarkable woman. A must read.
This nonfiction book reads like a suspense novel. I loved it.
Heroic woman
The true story of Virginia Hall, a major player in the French resistance during WWII, left me shocked and exhausted. She was a superwoman, always underestimated by the men she worked for. She arranged spy networks, weapons drop offs. If I’d written this plot no one would believe it could happen, but for Ms. Hall it was her life. An amazing read, an amazing woman.
Great little-known story of an extraordinary American woman who changed the course of WWII. Well researched and well told.
As a novelist who lives in Lyon, France, has researched and written about the French Resistance, and visited many of the places described here, I am in awe of Virginia Hall’s life and Sonia Purnell’s retelling of it. A master work about an amazing woman deserving of all the accolades it has received.
Virginia Hall was the most important American spy during WWII that was not recognized for her greatness by so many during the war. Because of her tenacity and her desire to help, she was a valuable source of info for the Allies.
It is fascinating to read about someone like Virginia Hall, a trailblazer. However, I felt that the writing was a bit tedious, although the research and amount of information shared was impressive. Perhaps I am weary from reading many WWII books – while the story is fascinating, I wasn’t engaged with the book.
I am glad I read it, and learned more about this amazing woman. It is a shame that the men in the government were unable to see her value while she worked against the Nazi regime.
#AWomanOfNoImportance #SoniaPurnell
This is a biography of Virginia Hall, a heroine of the Resistance during WW2.
I enjoyed learning more about a largely unsung heroine of WW2, and was impressed by the details uncovered by the writer during her research. Virginia Hall appears to have had an indomitable spirit, and excellent organisational skills.
It felt as though the SOE was dealt with rather offhandedly though. It was an entirely new concept, and the first of its kind, so of course there were many teething problems. Its beginnings were always going to be rough, and mistakes were going to be made. Virginia Hall contributed a great deal to the methods later used by the SOE. It’s sad that her own countrymen were largely unwilling to accept this amazing woman for who she was, and, for the most part, denied her appropriate recognition (the private medal ceremony notwithstanding) and promotion.
Details were given of everyday life in France during WW2, and of the barbarity of the Nazis, and the Vichy, and, later, the Milicins, which brought this biography to life.
Recommended
Based on story of a true American heroine during German occupation of France . Historical
Virginia Hall is a true American heroine who fought behind the lines in WWII and against all odds set up a resistance network that helped defeat the Nazis. With all that, the only way she could escape was to cross the massive Pyrenees mountains on foot – with a prosthetic leg!
This true story was a great read. Everyone who likes to read about WWII should put this at the top of his or her list.
Marnie Barno A non-fiction untold story of an American spy who helped win World War II. This New York Times Bestseller, tells the story of Virginia Hall, a woman who defiantly created French Resistance system despite stumbling blocks from military personnel in England as well as in France. She became Hitler’s Number ONE target he wanted dead. In broad daylight, walked, able to change personalities and looks in minutes despite the artificial leg protheses. She used eight assumed names, accomplished more than military leaders could have imagined. Refusing recognition, she accepted one of US awards, but on her terms, privately with no cameras present. She thought of the future and if her skills were again needed, she didn’t want anyone to recognize her.
I read into the wee hours of many mornings before finishing the book.
An incredible true story of a Baltimore native who became a leader in the French underground during WW2 and went on to help establish the CIA. Well researched and extremely well written.
I’ve been reading nearly every new nonfiction book about WW II because of work of my own, and this is the second biography of the amazing Virginia Hall, one of the first American women secret agents serving in France who eventually became part of the OSS (Officie of Strategic Services and later, the CIA). The previous biography was The Wolves at the Door by Judith L. Pearson. Both are worth reading, although the newest benefits from files and archives that have been more recently made available. Both biographies rounded out my understanding of this extraordinary American patriot who survived the war but paid dearly in personal and professional terms for her service to our country.
Great story about an unsung heroine of WWII.
Who knew there was a handicapped woman spy in WWII who helped win the war for us? Sonia Purnell knew. This book is better than any James Bond tome. Read it and learn.