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A Woman of No Importance: The Untold Story of the American Spy Who Helped Win Wo
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Located in: North Saanich, British C, Canada
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- 98.1% positive feedback
Seller assumes all responsibility for this listing.
eBay item number:326048031450
Item specifics
- Condition
- Good
- Seller Notes
- Format
- Hardcover
- Language
- English
- Book Title
- Woman of No Importance : the Untold Story of the American Spy Who Helped Win World War II
- Publisher
- Penguin Publishing Group
- Topic
- Women, Military / World War II, Espionage, Europe / France, Political
- ISBN
- 9780735225299
- Item Length
- 9.3in
- Publication Year
- 2019
- Item Height
- 1.2in
- Genre
- Biography & Autobiography, True Crime, History
- Item Width
- 6.3in
- Item Weight
- 20 oz
- Number of Pages
- 368 Pages
About this product
Product Information
A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER Chosen 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 London Winner of the Plutarch Award for Best Biography "E xcellent...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.
Product Identifiers
Publisher
Penguin Publishing Group
ISBN-10
073522529x
ISBN-13
9780735225299
eBay Product ID (ePID)
13038672886
Product Key Features
Book Title
Woman of No Importance : the Untold Story of the American Spy Who Helped Win World War II
Format
Hardcover
Language
English
Topic
Women, Military / World War II, Espionage, Europe / France, Political
Publication Year
2019
Genre
Biography & Autobiography, True Crime, History
Number of Pages
368 Pages
Dimensions
Item Length
9.3in
Item Height
1.2in
Item Width
6.3in
Item Weight
20 oz
Additional Product Features
Lc Classification Number
D810.S8g597 2019
Reviews
"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 Praise for Clementine: "An astute, pacey account of a woman who hardly ever emerged from the shadows. It is a sharp analysis of what it meant to be a politician's wife . . . that shows how much we can learn about Winston Churchill from his wife and marriage." --The Wall Street Journal "Thorough and engaging . . . Purnell's extensive and insightful biography offers a much welcome portrait of Clementine Churchill, a woman whose remarkable life has long been overshadowed by her famous husband." --The Washington Post "Thorough and engrossing." --The New York Times "A fascinating and well-written account of a woman who played a key role in many pivotal moments of early-20th-century British and world politics." -- Minneapolis Star Tribune "Until this biography, Clementine's influence had been completely overlooked and undervalued by Winston's biographers. Clementine was a complicated, mercurial figure, and Purnell does a wonderful job painting a full picture of a woman who was an excellent wife, a mediocre at best mother, and privy to some of the most profound moments of the modern era." -- Jessica Grose, Lenny Letter, Praise for A Woman of No Importance : "[An] excellent biography... if Virginia Hall herself remains something of an enigma -- a testament, perhaps, to the skills that allowed her to live in the shadows for so long -- the extraordinary facts of her life are brought onto the page here with a well-judged balance of empathy and fine detail. This book is as riveting as any thriller, and as hard to put down" -- The New York Times Book Review "[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 "A gripping take... 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.org "Never have I read anything like it. Every page is compelling and demands not just to be read, but absorbed. Every act reflects incredible bravery. This is what heroism looks like...Sonia Purnell has ensured Virginia Hall''s place in that great pantheon." --FOX News "Electrifying" --Smithsonian.com "A fitting and moving tribute to an amazing woman." - The Economist " 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, "Fast-paced, meticulously researched...a gripping account of an extraordinary woman, and a celebration of courage, ingenuity and grit." -Shelf Awareness "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 "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 "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 Praise for Clementine: "An astute, pacey account of a woman who hardly ever emerged from the shadows. It is a sharp analysis of what it meant to be a politician's wife . . . that shows how much we can learn about Winston Churchill from his wife and marriage." --The Wall Street Journal "Thorough and engaging . . . Purnell's extensive and insightful biography offers a much welcome portrait of Clementine Churchill, a woman whose remarkable life has long been overshadowed by her famous husband." --The Washington Post "Thorough and engrossing." --The New York Times "A fascinating and well-written account of a woman who played a key role in many pivotal moments of early-20th-century British and world politics." -- Minneapolis Star Tribune "Until this biography, Clementine's influence had been completely overlooked and undervalued by Winston's biographers. Clementine was a complicated, mercurial figure, and Purnell does a wonderful job painting a full picture of a woman who was an excellent wife, a mediocre at best mother, and privy to some of the most profound moments of the modern era." -- Jessica Grose, Lenny Letter, Praise for Clementine: "An astute, pacey account of a woman who hardly ever emerged from the shadows. It is a sharp analysis of what it meant to be a politician's wife . . . that shows how much we can learn about Winston Churchill from his wife and marriage." --The Wall Street Journal "Thorough and engaging . . . Purnell's extensive and insightful biography offers a much welcome portrait of Clementine Churchill, a woman whose remarkable life has long been overshadowed by her famous husband." --The Washington Post "Thorough and engrossing." --The New York Times "A fascinating and well-written account of a woman who played a key role in many pivotal moments of early-20th-century British and world politics." -- Minneapolis Star Tribune "Until this biography, Clementine's influence had been completely overlooked and undervalued by Winston's biographers. Clementine was a complicated, mercurial figure, and Purnell does a wonderful job painting a full picture of a woman who was an excellent wife, a mediocre at best mother, and privy to some of the most profound moments of the modern era." -- Jessica Grose, Lenny Letter, "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 "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 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 Praise for Clementine: "An astute, pacey account of a woman who hardly ever emerged from the shadows. It is a sharp analysis of what it meant to be a politician's wife . . . that shows how much we can learn about Winston Churchill from his wife and marriage." --The Wall Street Journal "Thorough and engaging . . . Purnell's extensive and insightful biography offers a much welcome portrait of Clementine Churchill, a woman whose remarkable life has long been overshadowed by her famous husband." --The Washington Post "Thorough and engrossing." --The New York Times "A fascinating and well-written account of a woman who played a key role in many pivotal moments of early-20th-century British and world politics." -- Minneapolis Star Tribune "Until this biography, Clementine's influence had been completely overlooked and undervalued by Winston's biographers. Clementine was a complicated, mercurial figure, and Purnell does a wonderful job painting a full picture of a woman who was an excellent wife, a mediocre at best mother, and privy to some of the most profound moments of the modern era." -- Jessica Grose, Lenny Letter, 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
Copyright Date
2019
Target Audience
Trade
Lccn
2018-060359
Dewey Decimal
940.54/8641092 B
Dewey Edition
23
Illustrated
Yes
Item description from the seller
Seller assumes all responsibility for this listing.
eBay item number:326048031450
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Item location:
North Saanich, British C, Canada
Ships to:
Canada, United States
Excludes:
Belarus, Kuwait, Macedonia, Morocco, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine
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Free shipping | United States | Canada Post Expedited Parcel - USA | Estimated between Tue, May 7 and Tue, May 14 to 43230 |
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Will usually ship within 1 business day of receiving cleared payment. |
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Seller feedback (1,909)
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Item came perfect, packaged and exactly as described!! Prices here are excellent and there's a lot of clear care put into making sure your product arrives in good shape. Felt appreciated as a buyer! Absolutely wonderful service from a wonderful seller. THANK YOU!! A+++
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Tracking number didn’t work which was a bit of a pain but item came earlier than expected. The item was packaged very well. Being a record it’s hard to be perfect quality considering its age but was as good and exactly as presented by seller. Overall good experience and would buy from seller again!
d***m (283)- Feedback left by buyer.
Past 6 months
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Slow shipping from Canada and not packaged the greatest for a long trip in the mail. Also missing the keypad cover which was not disclosed in the listing. The item works though, so it's fine for me. Thank you.
Product ratings and reviews
Most relevant reviews
- Feb 10, 2023Top favourable review
Virginia was a lovely woman with a physical disability, an unlikely spy, which was her cover.
Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-OwnedSold by: goodwill_colorado_springs
- Sep 29, 2020Top critical review
The book is great—the online format is not.
Verified purchase: YesCondition: NewSold by: mayon_8393
- Jul 11, 2019
The title is appropriate.
Verified purchase: YesCondition: NewSold by: webdelico
- Apr 08, 2020
Amazing Story
Verified purchase: YesCondition: NewSold by: tradersage62
- Apr 13, 2021
An exciting book to read, but not an easy page turner
Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-Owned
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