Code Name Hélène : Inspired by the gripping true story of World War 2 spy Nancy Wake

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It is 1936 and Nancy Wake is an intrepid Australian expat living in Paris who has bluffed her way into a reporting job for Hearst newspaper when she meets the wealthy French industrialist Henri Fiocca. No sooner does Henri sweep Nancy off her feet and convince her to become Mrs. Fiocca than the Germans invade France and she takes yet another name: a code name. Leading the Resistance, Nancy was a formidable force. Strength of character, her determination to never give up, her loyalty to the men she worked with, and her hatred of the brutality of the Bosch gave her the respect that kept her men by her side. The memorable push bike ride over rough terrain through France, avoiding German patrols, pedalling for 250kms to her destination, then discovering she had to return immediately to notify her men in the camp of a drop – almost 500kms in 72 hours; the admiration of her men, but the exhaustion and pain for Nancy was just one of the many feats by this astonishing woman. Are we really going to stand here and argue about the tangled nature of my family tree while my guests are left unattended?” (c) Code Name Helene is an enchanting story of a beautiful marriage, friendships, war, bravery, tragedy and the sacrifices made by both Helene and Henri. A compulsively readable account of a little-known yet extraordinary historical figure—Lawhon’s best book to date.

CODE NAME HÉLÈNE | Kirkus Reviews

Nancy Grace Augusta Wake had several code names; Hélène was the one she used as a spy. During a large part of this novel, she is known as Madame Andrée, in charge of coordinating communications and vital drops of military paraphernalia including weapons from London, and assuming command of an army of French guerrilla soldiers as part of the French Resistance during WW11. She was fiery, intelligent, spirited, and had a right big vocabulary of curse words, which she employed liberally. Did I mention brave? She had that in spades. Originally from Australia, she left home when she was 16 and eventually landed in Paris, working for the Hearst newspaper, where she was never given a byline because she was female. While covering news stories about increasing violence against Jews, she developed a deep-seated hatred for the Nazis. Based on the thrilling real-life story of a socialite spy and astonishing woman who killed a Nazi with her bare hands and went on to become one of the most decorated women in WWII —from the New York Times bestselling author of I Was Anastasia. I highly recommend this story about sacrifice, betrayal, friendship, loyalty and love for historical fiction and/or WWII fans alike!Lawhon has proven herself a master at her craft, and she does readers a great service with Code Name Hélène, which she penned after a friend suggested a few years ago that she write about Nancy Wake. Like many of us, the author had not heard of the Aussie legend before 2015. “In all my years researching and writing historical fiction, I have never come across such a bold, bawdy, brazen woman,” she writes. I finished this a few weeks ago and I’m still thinking about Hélène . . . exceptional‘ 5 stars (Goodreads reviewer) The story was too long. The first half was dull and boring. For me the story only caught on in the second half of the book

Code Name Hélène by Ariel Lawhon: 9780525565499

I’m recommending Code Name Hélène for fans of fast-paced, suspenseful, and gritty historical fiction who are OK with intense situations and graphic descriptions and for readers who make it their mission to read everything Ariel Lawhon writes. It also made me see that we need Nancy's strength and daring in the challenges that face us as a nation and as a world. First and foremost was the sexual descriptions and the fact that the author felt that including these made Nancy perhaps more palpable. Could this woman not stand on her own without the references to her beauty, her sexual prowess, and her ability to attract any man? I felt it cheapened the story for once again a woman became "something" because of her looks.What Nancy Wake did to aid the war effort against the Nazi war machine is nothing short of miraculous. Who said that the war front was no place for a woman? Well whoever said it Nancy Wake proved them wrong. Will fascinate readers of World War II history and thrill fans of fierce, brash, independent women.”—Lisa Wingate, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Before We Were Yours Because Code Name Hélène is set during WW11 and the French Resistance Movement, readers need to be prepared that this is an intense read (at least it was for me!). Characteristic of the real-life Nancy Wake, there is a great deal of profanity. In addition, the narrative includes at least two graphic and descriptive torture scenes and a couple of executions. If this were a movie, it would be rated R. Australian expat, Nancy Wake, lives in Paris and works as a freelancer. She has paved her way onto the roster at Hearst. There is something for everyone here. There’s the tension and thrills as the resistance fighters pit themselves against the German war machine and that’s countered by the touching love sto