A Woman of No Importance cover art

A Woman of No Importance

The Untold Story of Virginia Hall, WWII's Most Dangerous Spy

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A Woman of No Importance

By: Sonia Purnell
Narrated by: Juliet Stevenson
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About this listen

The New York Times best seller.

In September 1941, a young American woman strides up the steps of a hotel in Lyon, Vichy France. Her papers say she is a journalist. Her wooden leg is disguised by a determined gait and a distracting beauty. She is there to spark the resistance.

By 1942 Virginia Hall was the Gestapo's most urgent target, having infiltrated Vichy command, trained civilians in guerrilla warfare and sprung soldiers from Nazi prison camps. The first woman to go undercover for British SOE, her intelligence changed the course of the war - but her fight was still not over.

This is a spy history like no other, telling the story of the hunting accident that disabled her, the discrimination she fought and the secret life that helped her triumph over shocking adversity.

Winner of the Plutarch Award for Best Biography

©2019 Sonia Purnell (P)2019 Hachette Audio UK Espionage Historical Military True Crime Women Women's Voices War

Critic Reviews

"A rousing tale of derring-do." (The Times)

"Riveting." (Mick Herron)

"Superb." (Irish Times)
All stars
Most relevant  
Loved everything about this book. What an extraordinary woman Virginia Hall was: a groundbreaker, a true North Star of righteousness for democracy and freedom. Her story is more important now than ever, given the systemic chiselling away of democracies in the west, worst of all, from within. This American woman would be aghast as the state of her nation today, in 2025. The narration and narrator were also superb. Can’t recommend this book, or praise the author, enough.

A Woman Of Substance, Courage and Charm

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Couldn't stop listening once I'd started. Truly fascinating.
It's seriously hard to believe it really happened. Bravery, loyalty and ingenuity beyond anything you can imagine.

Incredible, hard to believe. an absolute must-read

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A fantastic book about a truly amazing woman who figured heroically as a resistance fighter in France during World War 2. Superbly written and the beautifully read by Juliet Stevenson. I loved it

Outstanding

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Such an amazing woman! A great true story and fab narration…
Well worth a listen

Excellent!

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I thoroughly enjoyed this book and was always trying to make time to listen to it. A woman with such determination to help the Resistance in France throughout the war.
Joy

A wonderful story of an amazing woman

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This is a little known true and epic tale in the history of WWII. A must read for all generations!

An absolutely incredible true stort

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Exhaustively researched, engagingly written. Better than the best spy novel because it's true and about an unsung hero, a superwoman who was fearless, clever, and disabled.

Incredible but true. Totally enthralling.

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Brilliaiant I hung on every word I would have loved to have known her!excellent

A woman of no importance

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This book started with excellent,historical refernces but,gradually deteriorated with a nauseating narration,constantly interrupted with appalling "accents". It was enough to turn me off completely,and,I was unable to complete the listen. Don't waste your time with this narrator. She ruined what could have been a good book.

Dreadful narration

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good story. very biased though, not a well rounded, strongly favours the protagonist. anyone, or any situation that crosses her path/will gets harshly represented.

good story. very biased though, not a well rounded

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