This fascinating book tells the remarkable story of an ordinary American
woman's heroism in the French Resistance. Virginia Roush fell in love
with Philippe d'Albert-Lake during a visit to France in 1936; they
married soon after. In 1943, they both joined the Resistance, where
Virginia put her life in jeopardy as she sheltered downed airmen and
later survived a Nazi prison camp. After the war, she stayed in France
with Philippe, and was awarded the Légion d'Honneur and the Medal of
Honor. She died in 1997.
Judy Barrett Litoff brings together two rare documents--Virginia's diary
of wartime France until her capture in 1944 and her prison memoir
written immediately after the war. Masterfully edited, they convey the
compassion and toughness of a nearly forgotten heroine as they provide
an invaluable record of the workings of the Resistance by one of the
very few American women who participated in it.
"An indelible portrait of extraordinary strength of character . . .
[D'Albert-Lake] is sombre, reflective, and attentive to every
detail."--The New Yorker
"A sharply etched and moving story of love, companionship, commitment,
and sacrifice. . . . This beautifully edited diary and memoir throw an
original light on the French Resistance."--Robert Gildea, author of
Marianne in Chains: In Search of the German Occupation, 1940-1945
"At once a stunning self-portrait and dramatic narrative of a valorous
young American woman . . . an exciting and gripping story, one of the
best of the many wartime tales." --Walter Cronkite
"An enthralling tale which brims with brave airmen and plucky
heroines."--David Kirby, St. Petersburg Times
