Description
In World War II France, she went by the name of Marie. Or Brigitte. Or any of a half dozen other names. Some saw her as a middle-aged newspaper reporter. To others, she was a doddering old woman. To the Nazis, she was an elusive enemy, "The Lady Who Limps." Her real name was Virginia Hall. She had a wooden leg. And she was a spy. As the Allies' first agent to live behind the lines in Vichy France, she organized resistance groups, helped conduct sabotage operations, and reported secret intelligence back to the Allies. She was one of the first women agents in the CIA and was the only civilian woman of the war to receive the Distinguished Service Cross. This is the story of Virginia Hall and her immense personal courage and determination, and how she broke through the barriers of physical limitation and gender discrimination to become America's greatest spy of World War II.
Product Details
| Publisher | Chrysalis Books, LLC |
| Publish Date | February 26, 2019 |
| Pages | 240 |
| Language | English |
| Type |  Hardback |
| EAN/UPC | 9781733541503 |
| Dimensions | 9.0 X 6.0 X 0.7 inches | 1.1 pounds |
About the Author
Reviews
"Hall was a real woman and an amazing one. But rather than tell the story as straight history, Gralley has chosen to turn it into a novel with Hall as the protagonist and first-person narrator--an inspired decision . . . We get to know Hall in all of her tortured and scary moments . . . What pervades this novel like a miasma is the sensation of being a spy, a deceiver, to be always--always--on guard . . . A fascinating, electric account of a heroic woman." -- Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"Craig Gralley's engrossing new book, Hall of Mirrors brings to life a story largely unknown outside the corridors of CIA. This riveting account, written with elegant clarity, is a first-rate novel about one of America's greatest spies. Hall of Mirrors is a tremendous read." --General David Petraeus, former Commander of the Surge in Iraq; Coalition Forces in Afghanistan; and Director, CIA
"Not since Memoirs of a Geisha have I been so gripped by a man writing in the first person as a woman. Gralley took me directly into the mind of one of the most fascinating spies in America's history . . . Engaging from the very first page, this thrilling historical fiction novel offers an empowering message behind the inspiring story of one woman's ability to overcome mental and physical obstacles . . . (Gralley) makes you feel as though you are in enemy territory . . . I turned away family and phone calls to find out what happens next."--Independent Book Review (top story)
"Fast-paced . . . A very satisfying read."--Historical Novel Society
"An extraordinary accomplishment. That is the only way I can describe Craig Gralley's deeply researched and beautifully written account of the legendary disabled CIA spy, who risked capture, torture, and death to help liberate WWII France. Narrated entirely in her voice as creatively imagined by Gralley, it can readily take its place alongside the most exciting of the latest thrillers. A stunner!" -Peter Earnest, Former Senior Officer, CIA; Founding Executive Director, International Spy Museum
"Craig Gralley's book is an enthralling account of a legendary American spy. As an actress who has played Virginia Hall in a feature film, I was impressed with Craig's ability to capture her spirit, perseverance and tenacity.--Sarah Megan Thomas, Actress and Producer--"Liberte: A Call to Spy"
"An engrossing work from a gifted writer, Hall of Mirrors captures the tenacity, resolve, and courage of a great heroine of the Second World War. Gralley has crafted a rich, intimate portrait of a woman who showed remarkable endurance under the threat of discovery. The novel reflects how Hall turned the personal challenges of her life into a shield against capture and execution." -SPYSCAPE
"Gralley gets inside of Virginia Hall's mind to provide insight into the fears, doubts, triumphs, and passions of a field-deployed covert operative in one of the most lethal environments in modern history. Gralley's highly original re-imagining of Virginia's wartime exploits is a page-turning thriller, reminiscent of Ben MacIntyre's Agent Zigzag. Hall of Mirrors reminds us that heroism crosses all boundaries of race, gender, and disability."--Larry H.Pastor, MD; Former CIA Psychiatrist and Army Veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom
"In Hall of Mirrors, Craig Gralley has not only conjured Virginia Hall's voice, but he's also captured the soul of one of America's greatest heroes . . . This beautifully written book makes it abundantly clear the Nazis were no match for her."--Charles Pinck, President, OSS Society
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