Not willing to spend much time following convention, Hall persevered and found other avenues not often attempted by women of her age. First, the daughter of society is thoroughly examined in a manner that explains how her early formative years lent themselves to adventure and exploration. The first and last chapters chronicle the beginning of Virginia Hall’s life to its conclusion. The book has a List of Characters, Prologue, 12 chapters, Epilogue, Notes, Selected Bibliography, and Index. Using a historically biographical narrative approach, Purnell scours the lost files, papers, and evidence to bring to life the brave, confident, intelligent Virginia Hall. Why does it take 73 years to hear her story? How did Hall, coping with a disability, conquer the hearts and minds of the local population? How did Hall escape the cries of gratitude from a grateful nation, the acceptance of awards for bravery, or the need to tell her story? Who was this noteworthy woman slighted by those supposedly leading the charge against Nazi Germany and Vichy France? Finally, does the author believe that Virginia Hall was a victim of gender bias?

Purnell attempts to answer many questions to reveal the truly amazing character of Virginia Hall. With this book, the author turns to researching files long lost, forgotten, and ignored to bring the story of Virginia Hall in grand fashion to right this wrong. Purnell wonders how “a female guerrilla leader of her stature remains so little known to this day.” (p. The author, Sonia Purnell, is a biographer and journalist with stints at The Economist, The Telegraph, and The Sunday Times. A Woman of No Importance: The Untold Story of the American Spy Who Helped Win World War II by Sonia Purnell.

A woman of no importance book review