May 29, 2020
Hello ,
This week I've been nose deep in fascinating research about wolves, more specifically the gray wolves reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park 25 years ago. There's a lot of controversy over wolves in the western states. I'm not getting into that much, mainly learning about the animals themselves.
What interests me most is scientists' observations about of the complex social dynamics within wolf packs. The "Alpha Wolf" stereotype is well-lodged in our consciousness and day-to-day language. Our understanding of the ferocious wolf who fought his way to leader of the pack came from studies last century on wolves in captivity.
In their natural habitat, the leading male and female of a wolf pack are more likely to resemble a modern, liberated couple, sharing the job of training, nurturing and providing for the youngsters.
Look for some interesting links to learn more about wolves below. But first, welcome new subscriber Jan Hardenbrook. Thanks for joining us, Jan!
This weeks' feature story is a follow up to one I sent sent you two years ago about Virginia Hall, an all-too-little-known World War II spy, at one time the Gestapos' most wanted woman, or man, in occupied France.
She's finally getting some of the recognition she deserves with three new books and two movies about her within the last year and the coming months.
Nazis Called Her the "Limping Lady"
Here's one of my favorite stories about Virginia Hall, an American woman trained and deployed by the British Special Operations Executive Agency.
In 1920, at the age of 14, she decided that for her life's work, she would become a foreign ambassador and help nations to co-exist peacefully.
Unfortunately, a hunting accident resulted in the amputation one of her legs below the knee. How she recovered from this is a great story itself.
After recovering Virginia refused to let the loss of a limb end her desire to make a difference in the world. In 1934, she took a low level job in the American consulate in Venice, Italy. But she continued to pursue a position as an ambassador in the foreign service.
But when she applied, her rejection came in a letter explaining "any amputation...of a limb...is cause for rejection in the diplomatic career field."
This logic so angered Virginia, she quit, declaring she was missing half a leg, not a brain!
Missing half a leg, she could still have followed the path of most women in her time and social sphere. She would have been a much sought-after debutante, could have married a wealthy husband and lived a carefree life.
The 2019 movie, Liberté: A Call to Spy shows what she did instead. The movie stars Sarah Megan Thomas as Virginia Hall, one of the women recruited by Vera Atkins, Winston Churchill's formidable spymistress. Radhika Apte playing Noor Inayat Khan, a Muslim pacifist rounds out the films key characters involved in a spy network to stop Hitler.
Above: Radhika Apte as Noor Inayat Khan, Great Britain's first Muslim War Heroine.
Liberté: A Call to Spy is based on the true stories of women who risked their lives to organize resistance units, transmit messages and conduct sabotage under the Nazi regime in occupied France.
"There was an extensive amount of research," says Thomas, who wrote and produced the film as well as acting in it. "What I tried to do with the film was stay true to the women, the arc of their lives, and their spirits."
I think Thomas can be forgiven for one major departure from historical truth in the movie.
Noor Inayat Kahn—first female wireless operator sent from Britain to aid the French Resistance during WW II—did not work with Virginia Hall as depicted in the movie. This decision was a terrific way to highlight the courage of another little-known woman and her contribution to history.
One interesting note, while playing Virginia Hall, who used a wooden leg in real life, actress Sarah Megan Thomas ruptured her left Achilles tendon, requiring surgery and extensive rehab after the filming.
It's based on a book of the same name by British author Sonia Purnell, who purposefully chose an ironic name for the biography.
"Through a lot of her life, the early life, she was constantly rejected and belittled," said Purnell. "She was constantly just being dismissed as someone not very important or of no importance."
Hall's skill and courage infuriated one of the most infamous Nazis, Klaus Barbie. The Butcher of Lyon was responsible for the torture and killings of thousands of people involved in the French Resistance. He is the man who ordered wanted posters of Hall that proclaimed "The Enemy's Most Dangerous Spy — We Must Find And Destroy Her!"
A Woman of No Importance will star actress Daisy Ridley the lead in Star Wars: The Force Awakens as the Virginia Hall.
Following WWII Virginia Hall worked for the CIA for fifteen years. Her story is displayed at the CIA Museum inside agency headquarters in Langley, Va. But the the museum is not open to the public.
Source:
I didn't pay enough attention when I ordered the book online, and what I purchased was an audio copy on CD! Who has a CD player anymore? I'm trying to find a good home for the CDs. Maybe if you have an older car?
It's a compelling book, including a lot of scientific information about wolves and the Yellowstone packs. Though, I must include the spoiler that the wolf dies in the end.
If you want the CD audio copy of American Wolf, email me your address. (Used copy selling for $33 dollars at Thrift Books.)
For more info about wolves, check out these articles:
A documentary The Trouble With Wolves tells a includes multiple viewpoints about one animal - the gray wolf in the American West. Read a great book? Have a burning question? Let me know. If you know someone who might enjoy my newsletter or books, please forward this e-mail. I will never spam you or sell your email address, you can unsubscribe anytime at the link
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To find out more about my books, how I help students, teachers, librarians and writers visit my website at www.MaryCronkFarrell.com.
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