Mata Hari

thumb| Margaretha Geertruida MacLeod (née Zelle; 7 August 1876 – 15 October 1917), better known by the stage name Mata Hari; Indonesian for 'sun', lit. 'eye of the day'), was a Dutch exotic dancer and courtesan who was convicted of being a spy for Germany during World War I. She was executed by firing squad in France. The idea of a beautiful exotic dancer using her powers of seduction as a spy made her name synonymous with the femme fatale. Her story has inspired books, films, and other works. Quotes Harlot, yes! But traitoress, never! At her trial. Quoted in Bill Hoffmann, "Mata Hari Heads Off", the New York Post (14 July 2000) Quelle étrange coutume des Français que d'exécuter les gens à l'aube! What a strange custom of the French to execute people at dawn! Before her execution. Quoted in Michel Klen, Femmes de guerre: une histoire millénaire (Paris: Ellipses, 2010), p. 266 External links Category:1876 births Category:1917 deaths Category:Spies Category:Courtesans Category:Executed people