Rose Rosetree’s Reviews > A Woman of No Importance: The Untold Story of the American Spy Who Helped Win World War II > Status Update

At least Virginia finally marries Paul!

All too often under-employed, and treated badly due to being a woman, Virginia still found ways to make a difference.

Especially after Winston Churchill's groundbreaking wake-up call, his "Iron Curtain" speech.

After World War II ended in Europe, Virginia went back to Paris with her lover. Then she went to Lyon, where a mood of despair prevailed. So much had been lost, and still needed repair.

"So human!" I thought. People don't bounce back instantly from Nazi cruelty and deprivation. I think it was beautiful how Virginia stayed, hoping to be of service.

World War I is over. The saga is winding down.

Oh, I don't want this book to end. Virginia has become one of my heroes!!!!

Months after D-Day, France was not liberated. Virginia worked persistently, even when her Resistance colleagues acted unprofessionally.

Later, the women of the village took the parachute silks from the many drops, sewing them into blouses and dresses.

Magnificent writing and pacing described what it meant to Virginia, and her Resisters, when RAF pilots from England made their first drop parachute drop.

We learn in detail all the necessary supplies, and goodies, that were receivedby the Resistance cells that Virginia ran.

When Virginia began working in the High Loire area, she had 30 volunteers for the Resistance.

By the time she left, she had 400.

How Virginia summoned up the patience not to leave in disgust? When receiving horrible, sexist treatment from these Frenchmen, it was beyond amazing how she stayed focused on her mission.

Kept her head down. Kept on working for the Resistance.

Not until today's reading did I learn that, among the French Resistance workers (whom Virginia risked her life to help), were ornery, scrappy Frenchmen with such strong tribal hatreds . . . .

It's as though, within World War II, they were fighting their own French Civil War.