But Fourcade’s story stands out: from 1941 to 1945, she led the largest and longest-lived spy network in occupied France. Olson’s book is part of a recent wave of works that highlight the women of World War II espionage (see “Book Briefs,” below). And until recently, suggests author Lynne Olson, true of the rest of us as well. The inability to recognize-let alone even imagine- a woman spymaster wasn’t just a German shortcoming: throughout Madame Fourcade’s Secret War, the same proves true of men on all sides of World War II.

They shoved her aside, ransacking her apartment for information about an important member of the Resistance cell known as “Alliance.” Little did they know its ringleader was Fourcade herself. In July 1944, the Gestapo pushed in Marie-Madeleine Fourcade’s door while hunting for French Resistance spies. The courageous socialite played a key role in the French Resistance-yet received little credit for her efforts. Madame Fourcade Was One of World War II's Most Daring Female Spies Close

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