A Woman of No Importance: The Untold Story of the American
Spy Who Helped Win World War II Hardcover by Sonia Purnell
"An incredible story of under-appreciated
heroism." - USA Today
"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
The 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.
Review
Praise for A Woman of No Importance:
“[A] compelling saga of a remarkable woman whose persistence was honed early on
by her battles against low gender expectations and later on by her disability.” –
USA Today
"Electrifying" —Smithsonian.com
"reads like a detailed novel… Purnell’s fascinating book supports her
description of Hall’s life as a ‘Homeric tale of adventure, action, and
seemingly unfathomable courage." —The Columbus Dispatch
"Sonia Purnell has written a riveting account of Hall’s work as a
ferociously courageous American spy… [she] writes with compelling energy and
fine detail." —The Minneapolis Star-Tribune
“Purnell’s writing is as precise and engaging as her research, and this book
restores overdue attention to one of the world’s great war heroes. It’s a joy
to read, and it will swell readers' hearts with pride.” —Booklist, Starred
Review
“A groundbreaking biography that reads like a spy thriller…a suspenseful,
heartbreaking and ultimately triumphant tale of heroism and sacrifice.” —BookPage,
Starred Review
“Purnell vividly resurrects an underappreciated hero and delivers an
enthralling story of wartime intrigue…fans of WWII history and women’s history
will be riveted.” —Publishers Weekly
“A remarkable chronicle...this lively examination…shows how, if Hall had been a
man, dropping undercover in and out of occupied Vichy, Paris, and Lyon, setting
up safe houses, and coordinating couriers for the Resistance, she would now be
as famous as James Bond…Meticulous research results in a significant biography
of a trailblazer who now has a CIA building named after her.”
–Kirkus
“Impressively researched and compellingly written, this brilliant biography
puts Virginia Hall−and her prosthetic leg, Cuthbert−back where they belong :
right in the heart of Resistance history.” —Clare Mulley, author of The
Women Who Flew for Hitler: A True Story of Soaring Ambition and Searing
Rivalry
“In this astonishing, intriguing book, Sonia Purnell presents one of the most
breathtaking stories yet told of female courage behind enemy lines. Its
strength lies not only in Purnell’s intimate and moving portrayal of Virginia’s
secret work, but also in the new light shed on the betrayal, bravery, and
bungling of Churchill’s Special Operations Executive for which Virginia
worked.” —Sarah Helm, author of Ravensbrück: Life and Death in
Hitler’s Concentration Camp for Women
“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.” —Douglas Waller, author
of Wild Bill Donovan: The Spymaster Who Created the OSS and Modern
American Espionage
About the Author
Sonia Purnell is a biographer and journalist who has worked at The Economist, The Telegraph, and The Sunday Times. Her book Clementine: The Life of Mrs. Winston Churchill (published as First Lady in the UK) was chosen as a book of the year by The Telegraph and The Independent, and was a finalist for the Plutarch Award. Her first book, Just Boris, was longlisted for the Orwell prize.