Grief-struck by the realisation that his wife no longer loves him, timid, self-effacing Paul Peachy enlists as a Private in the army, and leaves Milwaukee for the trenches of WWI France. When his company captures the infamous German spy Harry Stroller, Peachy - who speaks fluent German - is called upon to interrogate him. The next day, after a night spent in conversation with the spy, Peachy himself is captured by the enemy in No Man's Land, having lost his nerve during an attack. He is about to be shot when, inspired in extremis, he hits on the idea of impersonating Stroller (whose identity is so secret that almost no Germans have seen him). Discovering resources of courage and wit he never knew he possessed, Peachy carries off this imposture with style and is feted as a hero by his German hosts. Always aware that discovery must be around the corner, he falls in love with Annie Breton, a French prostitute, with whom he experiences a few final days of happiness before he is unmasked. "My French Whore" is a skillful, touching and often very funny debut novel about humanity's latent potential for heroism and happiness.