New Book, Movie Raise Profile of American Super Spy Virginia Hall

A new book and movie are raising the profile of WWII-era American spy Virginia Hall – who once topped Gestapo leader Klaus Barbie's most-wanted list.

In "A Woman of No Importance: The Untold Story of the American Spy Who Helped Win World War II," Sonia Purnell details how Hall battled both low gender expectations and, later on, her disability – a wooden leg. The book was out Tuesday, and highly praised by USA Today. 

The book has also been optioned for Paramount Pictures with Daisy Ridley set to star as Hall, the news outlet reported.

"James Bond had nothing on Hall," reviewer David Holahan wrote for USA Today. "Licensed to kill, she sported pens that shot poison ink, cyanide pills, dangerous loaves of bread (when sliced), and exploding horse dung set out ahead of German convoys."

"There was, however, a decided lack of glamour to the real deal," he wrote, noting that before Hall went on a second tour in occupied France, she needed a new look to avoid capture and, quoting Purnell, "has her fine, white American teeth ground down by a much-feared female London dentist to resemble those of a French countrywoman."

"Clearly, here was a woman on a mission," Holahan wrote – and likely outshone many of her male counterparts, perhaps denying her full due since history is "most often . . . written by men."

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