A Woman of No Importance: The Untold Story of Virginia Hall, WWII’s Most Dangerous Spy

Cuthbert is the name Virginia gave to her prosthetic leg. In the book, the leg symbolizes Virginia’s resilience, self-reliance, and sense of humor, which often manifested as an utter lack of self-pity.

The Distinguished Service Cross is “America’s second-highest military honor” (269). Virginia was the only female civilian in World War II to receive the DSC. She kept the ceremony secret, allowing only her mother to attend.

F Section is the arm of the Special Operations Executive that operated primarily in wartime France. Virginia’s first contact with Nicolas Bodington was her introduction to F Section, where Bodington was a senior officer.

The Office of Strategic Services was an American wartime intelligence agency that was in action from 1942 to 1945. Its goals included intelligence gathering, sabotage, wiretaps, and more. Virginia worked with the OSS after leaving the SOE.

The Special Operations Executive was a secret branch of the British military during World War II. The SOE served as the British corollary to the OSS. Virginia’s early contact with Bodington led her to take on increasing responsibilities within the SEO.