VIRGINIA

A historical novel that dramatizes the life of Virginia Hall, an American woman who worked for British intelligence during World War II.

Virginia takes a vacation in Italy with three other women—her sibling, Rebecca; her best friend, Amy; and a teacher, Barbara, who’s the oldest of the group. The latter two have organized the trip to find a suitor for Rebecca and wrest her away from her fiance, Thomas, about whom no one is particularly enthusiastic. It’s 1939, and Virginia is disturbed by the banners she sees extolling Mussolini and Hitler, the fascist political rallies, and violence in the streets. After speaking to a poor young girl with an infant daughter—a Tunisian who suffers under French colonial rule—Virginia impetuously decides to head to Tunisia with her friends to find a way to ease the anguish there. However, their group is kidnapped by slave traders, and Virginia is the victim of repeated sexual assault. The women are finally rescued, but during a brutal trek across the Sahara on camelback, they’re attacked by a sniper. Rebecca and Virginia are both shot; one is killed, and the other terribly injured. Meanwhile, Jamil, the slave trader responsible for their kidnapping, aims to recapture them with the help of his powerful friends. Crepeau’s historical research is impeccable over the course of this novel; she not only captures the minute details of Virginia’s life, but also the turbulent political climate of the time—including the United Kingdom’s participation in the French Resistance, an oft-neglected subject. She vividly portrays the transformation of a young socialite into a person of great substance; Virginia eventually accepts a position organizing resistance groups in France on behalf of the British government. The pace can feel lumbering at times; the story begins very slowly and dwells too long on the quest to find Rebecca a new suitor. The author’s prose is lucid but sometimes infelicitous: “She was the spoiled, selfless sister that orchestrated the adventure of a lifetime before she gave in to the wishes of her sister.” However, Virginia’s unique story remains genuinely compelling, nonetheless.

A tale of a remarkable life that, at its best, makes for gripping drama.