Structure

The main body of the narrative follows a straightforward structure that is both linear and chronological. It moves from a brief beginning (a sketching-in of the early life of central character Virginia Hall); through a lengthy middle (a sometimes-detailed recounting of her life and work in France as part of the French Resistance movement in World War II); and into a slightly less-sketched in ending (a summing-up of her post-war career, retirement, and death).

Within this basic overall structure, the narrative is broken down into a series of twelve chapters, each of which focuses on a particular phase of Virginia’s life and career. The narrative of Chapter One is defined by consideration of Virginia’s formative years; Chapters Two through Eight are defined by consideration of Virginia’s work in France while affiliated with the British Special Operations Executive (SOE); Chapters Nine through Eleven are defined...