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

How grimy and sordid the business of war can be. Sonia takes us through the saga of Le Chatte, a TRIPLE agent.

How will Virginia ever get past this mess?

Wasn't it enough that Virginia had the Gestapo to contend with? In the desperate poverty of France under the Vichy regime, even soap was hard to purchase.

Author Sonia Purnell used the word "grubby" to describe everyday life.

A boastful, chauvinistic upstart named "Churchill," unfortunately, is acting much like a villian. I hope he soon exits this true story.

One of the tricks employed for the sake of the Resistance involved Germaine's workers with syphillis.

Usually, once diagnosed, they received speedy treatment, and were not allowed to service customers until cured. But diseased workers were encouraged to turn tricks for the Nazi generals, then get treatment.

Virginia's friend Germaine - I've mentioned that Germaine was a madam. Today I read about how many of the prostitutes were in cahoots with the Resistance.

Helpful: Many of their regular customers were German generals. Hitler encouraged using prostitues. He said it helped his generals fight better.

At this point, doing what she can to set up the French Resistance, our heroine has three names.

She has befriended a woman with whom she has - surprisingly - a great deal in common: An influential Frenchwoman who runs a house of ill repute.

Both love danger and are fearless in their pursuit of restoring French independence from the Nazis - and the deplorable Vichy regime.