Action unlikely to be taken about French novelist, regardless of her faults? (5,3,3)
I believe the answer is:
warts and all
'regardless of her faults?' is the definition.
(as in a warts and all biography)
'action unlikely to be taken about french novelist' is the wordplay.
'action' becomes 'war' (military action).
'unlikely' becomes 'tall' (as in a tall tale).
'to be taken about' is an insertion indicator.
'french novelist' becomes 'sa nd' (George Sand 1804-1876).
'tall' going around 'sand' is 'tsandall'.
'war'+'tsandall'='WARTS AND ALL'
(Other definitions for warts and all that I've seen before include "Including characteristics that are not attractive" , "With shortcomings frankly revealed" , "regardless of faults!" , "with every horror exposed" , "Every part, both good and bad" .)