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Code Name Hélène
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Best Historical Fiction (2020)Told in interweaving timelines organized around the four code names Nancy used during the war, Code Name Hélène is a spellbinding and moving story of enduring love, remarkable sacrifice and unfaltering resolve that chronicles the true exploits of a woman who deserves to be a household name.
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.
As LUCIENNE CARLIER Nancy smuggles people and documents across the border. Her success and her remarkable ability to evade capture earns her the nickname THE WHITE MOUSE from the Gestapo. With a five million franc bounty on her head, Nancy is forced to escape France and leave Henri behind. When she enters training with the Special Operations Executives in Britain, her new comrades are instructed to call her HÉLÈNE. And finally, with mission in hand, Nancy is airdropped back into France as the deadly MADAM ANDRÉ, where she claims her place as one of the most powerful leaders in the French Resistance, armed with a ferocious wit, her signature red lipstick, and the ability to summon weapons straight from the Allied Forces.
But no one can protect Nancy if the enemy finds out these four women are one and the same, and the closer to liberation France gets, the more exposed she--and the people she loves--become.
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.
As LUCIENNE CARLIER Nancy smuggles people and documents across the border. Her success and her remarkable ability to evade capture earns her the nickname THE WHITE MOUSE from the Gestapo. With a five million franc bounty on her head, Nancy is forced to escape France and leave Henri behind. When she enters training with the Special Operations Executives in Britain, her new comrades are instructed to call her HÉLÈNE. And finally, with mission in hand, Nancy is airdropped back into France as the deadly MADAM ANDRÉ, where she claims her place as one of the most powerful leaders in the French Resistance, armed with a ferocious wit, her signature red lipstick, and the ability to summon weapons straight from the Allied Forces.
But no one can protect Nancy if the enemy finds out these four women are one and the same, and the closer to liberation France gets, the more exposed she--and the people she loves--become.
451 pages, Hardcover
First published March 31, 2020
About the author
Ariel Lawhon
9 books5,167 followersAriel Lawhon is the critically acclaimed, New York Times Bestselling author of THE WIFE, THE MAID, AND THE MISTRESS, FLIGHT OF DREAMS, I WAS ANASTASIA, and CODE NAME HELENE. Her books have been translated into numerous languages and have been Library Reads, One Book One County, Indie Next, Costco, and Book of the Month Club selections. She lives in the rolling hills outside Nashville, Tennessee, with her husband, four sons, and black Lab—who is, thankfully, a girl. Ariel splits her time between the grocery store and the baseball field.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 5,730 reviews
March 31, 2020
***NOW AVAILABLE***
Historical fiction is my favorite genre and I love books and movies about women spies. I have read quite a few about WWII and even WWI, though those women are not as well recognized.
This is the first book that I have read by this author. From the blurb of the book you know that :
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. She is fighting to cover the disturbing reports of violence coming out of Vienna and Berlin 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.
I had hoped for a fast paced, intriguing story about Nancy Wake and her operations during the war. However I found that this book spent an inordinate amount of time on the love and romance between Henri and Nancy. I didn’t need to know about their dinners or their sexual exploits in such detail. Certainly the relationship was important to Henri and Nancy but this book seemed to revolve a lot around this. This is quite a long book at 464 pages and I found myself bored during much of the first half of the book. I wanted more insight into the other characters and more action and suspense. I found the last quarter of the book to be the most interesting, along with the author’s notes. It’s during this part of the book that Nancy is operating as the White Mouse and is now known to the Germans and so there is a price on her head and she is leading very dangerous missions. This part was fascinating.
When I read the author’s notes I found that my feelings about the amount of time spent on their relationship wasn’t far from what the author intended. She states “This is a novel about marriage. Yes, of course, it’s also about war and friendship and bravery and tragedy and one of the most important conflicts of the 20th century . . . But to me, at its heart, this is a novel about a woman and her husband and the sacrifices made by both in the midst of extraordinary circumstances”. I felt that the author’s notes were a better description of the book than the blurb that accompanied the book's title.
I thought that this was a good book but not one that I could really highly recommend. It was very well researched and brought to life a women spy during WWII but I think there was a point when more editing would have helped this story. There are, however, many 5 star reviews for this book so read a variety of reviews, or just go in blind, and see how you feel about it. Reading is such a personal experience and I’m sure that this book will find it’s audience.
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through Edelweiss. It is set to publish on March 31, 2020
Historical fiction is my favorite genre and I love books and movies about women spies. I have read quite a few about WWII and even WWI, though those women are not as well recognized.
This is the first book that I have read by this author. From the blurb of the book you know that :
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. She is fighting to cover the disturbing reports of violence coming out of Vienna and Berlin 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.
I had hoped for a fast paced, intriguing story about Nancy Wake and her operations during the war. However I found that this book spent an inordinate amount of time on the love and romance between Henri and Nancy. I didn’t need to know about their dinners or their sexual exploits in such detail. Certainly the relationship was important to Henri and Nancy but this book seemed to revolve a lot around this. This is quite a long book at 464 pages and I found myself bored during much of the first half of the book. I wanted more insight into the other characters and more action and suspense. I found the last quarter of the book to be the most interesting, along with the author’s notes. It’s during this part of the book that Nancy is operating as the White Mouse and is now known to the Germans and so there is a price on her head and she is leading very dangerous missions. This part was fascinating.
When I read the author’s notes I found that my feelings about the amount of time spent on their relationship wasn’t far from what the author intended. She states “This is a novel about marriage. Yes, of course, it’s also about war and friendship and bravery and tragedy and one of the most important conflicts of the 20th century . . . But to me, at its heart, this is a novel about a woman and her husband and the sacrifices made by both in the midst of extraordinary circumstances”. I felt that the author’s notes were a better description of the book than the blurb that accompanied the book's title.
I thought that this was a good book but not one that I could really highly recommend. It was very well researched and brought to life a women spy during WWII but I think there was a point when more editing would have helped this story. There are, however, many 5 star reviews for this book so read a variety of reviews, or just go in blind, and see how you feel about it. Reading is such a personal experience and I’m sure that this book will find it’s audience.
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through Edelweiss. It is set to publish on March 31, 2020
March 31, 2020
Fictionally, Nancy is presented as a chic tough heroine who never fights without a fresh application of lipstick. The character of Nancy Wake holistically is interesting and I enjoyed her unapologetic nature.
A lot of the past, 1936, is about how Nancy met her husband, Henri. The development of their relationship takes the limelight for the first half of the book.
Nancy's different identities, totaling four, are not exactly told chronologically. The book is told in dual timelines, but two of her identities are not described until much later in the second half of the book. But, what happens is kind of all over the place. The story of Nancy as the WWII heroine was scattered and rambling. The story of what she did under each identity isn't balanced, and the reader sees more from her as the fighter Madame Andrèe.
Every little thing seems to be dictated in the narrative, making it much much longer than it needs to be. As an example, a detailed description of hair color and hair texture is specified for nearly everyone that Nancy Wake meets or sees whether a significant character or just a character passing by.
There was excessive dialogue that didn't progress the plot about day to day things unrelated to the major storyline. The book is 464 pages, but probably could have been 100-200 pages shorter if these extraneous details were cut. Because of this, I was often bored and the prose didn't flow for me.
This was an okay read, and I would rate this 2.5 stars. I am rounding up because I did enjoy reading the Author's Note at the end which caused me to look up the real Nancy Wake.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy. Opinions are my own.
A lot of the past, 1936, is about how Nancy met her husband, Henri. The development of their relationship takes the limelight for the first half of the book.
Nancy's different identities, totaling four, are not exactly told chronologically. The book is told in dual timelines, but two of her identities are not described until much later in the second half of the book. But, what happens is kind of all over the place. The story of Nancy as the WWII heroine was scattered and rambling. The story of what she did under each identity isn't balanced, and the reader sees more from her as the fighter Madame Andrèe.
Every little thing seems to be dictated in the narrative, making it much much longer than it needs to be. As an example, a detailed description of hair color and hair texture is specified for nearly everyone that Nancy Wake meets or sees whether a significant character or just a character passing by.
There was excessive dialogue that didn't progress the plot about day to day things unrelated to the major storyline. The book is 464 pages, but probably could have been 100-200 pages shorter if these extraneous details were cut. Because of this, I was often bored and the prose didn't flow for me.
This was an okay read, and I would rate this 2.5 stars. I am rounding up because I did enjoy reading the Author's Note at the end which caused me to look up the real Nancy Wake.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy. Opinions are my own.
November 5, 2020
I loved this! This WWII novel tells the story of Nancy Wake, the unsung French Resistance leader who was #1 on the Gestapo’s most-wanted list by the end of the war.
The real Nancy was larger than life; bold, bawdy, and brazen—a woman who, as the only female among thousands of
French men, was not only respected as an equal but revered as a leader. The story is set during WWII, yes—a setting the author says she came to kicking and screaming, because there are a lot these days—but at its heart this is a story of friendship, and of love.
Nancy leaps off the page, with her Victory Red lipstick, snappy one-liners, and incredible bravery. Riveting.
The real Nancy was larger than life; bold, bawdy, and brazen—a woman who, as the only female among thousands of
French men, was not only respected as an equal but revered as a leader. The story is set during WWII, yes—a setting the author says she came to kicking and screaming, because there are a lot these days—but at its heart this is a story of friendship, and of love.
Nancy leaps off the page, with her Victory Red lipstick, snappy one-liners, and incredible bravery. Riveting.
March 5, 2021
Crikey! I am so glad Ariel Lawhon wrote this little-known story of one of WWII's greatest military leaders, Australian war heroine Nancy Grace Augusta Wake, who not only led successful missions with the French Resistance, but who also killed a Nazi with her bare hands!
Five SOLID stars for these reasons:
1. Lawhon's fine writing of this remarkable woman had me immediately liking her from the start! I loved Nancy's no-nonsense witty attitude, her fierce independence, her subtle sensuality, her signature red lipstick! I loved hearing about the soft side of Nancy, as well as her gritty, tough-as-nails side. She's brash, spirited; not invincible, but, damn it, she's determined! I had some LOL moments and some moments of heartbreak;
2. told in interweaving timelines, the riveting plot is full of descriptive intrigue. I would look forward to listening to this audiobook whenever life called me away;
3. Lawhon's "Author's Note" relays the immense amount of research she made regarding this memorable woman and why this was written as historical fiction and not as a biography. She recommends reading Nancy Wake's autobiography The White Mouse; and,
4. narrator, Barrie Kreinik, brings Nancy Wake to life! It wasn't like she was reading it; more like living it on the spot! Her realistic retelling was like watching a good movie!
I highly recommend this story about sacrifice, betrayal, friendship, loyalty and love for historical fiction and/or WWII fans alike!
Warning: This story contains some graphic scenes of torture and use of profanity.
Five SOLID stars for these reasons:
1. Lawhon's fine writing of this remarkable woman had me immediately liking her from the start! I loved Nancy's no-nonsense witty attitude, her fierce independence, her subtle sensuality, her signature red lipstick! I loved hearing about the soft side of Nancy, as well as her gritty, tough-as-nails side. She's brash, spirited; not invincible, but, damn it, she's determined! I had some LOL moments and some moments of heartbreak;
2. told in interweaving timelines, the riveting plot is full of descriptive intrigue. I would look forward to listening to this audiobook whenever life called me away;
3. Lawhon's "Author's Note" relays the immense amount of research she made regarding this memorable woman and why this was written as historical fiction and not as a biography. She recommends reading Nancy Wake's autobiography The White Mouse; and,
4. narrator, Barrie Kreinik, brings Nancy Wake to life! It wasn't like she was reading it; more like living it on the spot! Her realistic retelling was like watching a good movie!
I highly recommend this story about sacrifice, betrayal, friendship, loyalty and love for historical fiction and/or WWII fans alike!
Warning: This story contains some graphic scenes of torture and use of profanity.
April 14, 2021
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.
This is my first book by this author, Ariel Lawhon. I was impressed with the level of research that she did for the novel. In her note at the end of the book, she writes, “I read about my subjects extensively and, in the drafts that I turn in to my publisher, footnote every single detail that I find… Of the 612 pages in the final draft pages, fifty were footnotes.” I found the narrative credible, very detailed, and informative about historical events. Lawhon had several source materials including Nancy Wake’s autobiography, The White Mouse.
There are two timelines. The first is 1944, which finds Nancy parachuting from a Liberator aircraft into Auvergne, France with her partner, Hubert, a seasoned soldier. The second timeline takes the reader back eight years to 1936 when Nancy is working for Hearst. During the years prior to WW11, Nancy will meet Henri Fiocca, a wealthy shipping magnate. The courting and love story of the two is beautifully written. Henri is attracted to Nancy’s infectious laugh, which explodes from her body and fills a room. I found it mostly easy to go back and forth between the timelines; each chapter is headed by the date and place it occurs. It gets a little more difficult as the timelines converge toward the end, a minor annoyance.
What qualities enable a person to lead during times of duress? Some people just seem to shine as all their marbles click into place while adrenaline courses through their bodies. Other people become frightened and tuck their tails. Nancy is a born leader. It wasn’t easy. Lawhon shows just how difficult it was for Nancy to win the trust and even loyalty of men living in the rough, fighting against the German occupation.
This story is gritty; it includes war brutality. Lawhon spares nothing. I learned about the Maginot Line, a series of concrete fortifications thought to be impenetrable along the French-German border, and so much about the French Resistance, the fighters called maquisards, and the dark side of Vienna, the violence against the Jews. The SOE (Special Operations Executive), whose agents worked mostly behind enemy lines, is also covered in great detail. The British agents had to have their silver fillings exchanged for gold ones because the French had only gold fillings. Nancy carries her revolver; she is a good shot, but she also considers her lipstick part of her arsenal. She is a unique individual. This novel is based on the true-life story of Nancy Wake. Highly recommended for those who prefer to learn history by reading historical fiction.
This is my first book by this author, Ariel Lawhon. I was impressed with the level of research that she did for the novel. In her note at the end of the book, she writes, “I read about my subjects extensively and, in the drafts that I turn in to my publisher, footnote every single detail that I find… Of the 612 pages in the final draft pages, fifty were footnotes.” I found the narrative credible, very detailed, and informative about historical events. Lawhon had several source materials including Nancy Wake’s autobiography, The White Mouse.
There are two timelines. The first is 1944, which finds Nancy parachuting from a Liberator aircraft into Auvergne, France with her partner, Hubert, a seasoned soldier. The second timeline takes the reader back eight years to 1936 when Nancy is working for Hearst. During the years prior to WW11, Nancy will meet Henri Fiocca, a wealthy shipping magnate. The courting and love story of the two is beautifully written. Henri is attracted to Nancy’s infectious laugh, which explodes from her body and fills a room. I found it mostly easy to go back and forth between the timelines; each chapter is headed by the date and place it occurs. It gets a little more difficult as the timelines converge toward the end, a minor annoyance.
What qualities enable a person to lead during times of duress? Some people just seem to shine as all their marbles click into place while adrenaline courses through their bodies. Other people become frightened and tuck their tails. Nancy is a born leader. It wasn’t easy. Lawhon shows just how difficult it was for Nancy to win the trust and even loyalty of men living in the rough, fighting against the German occupation.
This story is gritty; it includes war brutality. Lawhon spares nothing. I learned about the Maginot Line, a series of concrete fortifications thought to be impenetrable along the French-German border, and so much about the French Resistance, the fighters called maquisards, and the dark side of Vienna, the violence against the Jews. The SOE (Special Operations Executive), whose agents worked mostly behind enemy lines, is also covered in great detail. The British agents had to have their silver fillings exchanged for gold ones because the French had only gold fillings. Nancy carries her revolver; she is a good shot, but she also considers her lipstick part of her arsenal. She is a unique individual. This novel is based on the true-life story of Nancy Wake. Highly recommended for those who prefer to learn history by reading historical fiction.
June 27, 2020
So here I am once again in the land of the "wish I could have liked it better". I am an avid fan of well done historical fiction, and of course looking at all the raving reviews on this story, I was ready to settle in and be amazed and awed by this tale.
What I liked about the book....
--- it did allow me to learn about a woman who I had never heard of. As a teacher for thirty plus years, it often amazes and disappoints me that I never knew of these courageous, fearless, and audacious women of the war, and could not extend that knowledge to my students.
---I developed a keen admiration for Nancy Wake and her heroics during a time when it seemed heroics were secret, scary, and death defying.
---The descriptions of her trials and what she accomplished were mesmerizing and worthy of the highest note and regard.
--- It made the reader once again realize that women, along with men, fought for freedom, for justice for all, and for the ability to throw off oppression and totalitarianism
--- 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.
---It encouraged me to learn more about Nancy Wake
What I disliked
--- 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.
---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
---It once again disappointed me because I felt that this courageous stalwart woman's story was overwhelmed by the love at first sight and titillation of the sexual attraction between her virile, gorgeous wealthy husband and herself. Was this not a story of how Nancy could and did stand on her own?
So maybe..
---My mood was not right for this book
---I expect too much from an historical fiction book
---My patience and concentration was off
---I need to stay away from this genre for awhile
All in all it was not a bad book. It did irk me though that the story seemed to play up Nancy's sexual beauty and ability to attract any man, instead of her overwhelming courage, bravery, and resilience in the time where these attributes were most needed Please do look at the amazing reviews that others have written about this story. It's probably me, but I wanted more from this story.
What I liked about the book....
--- it did allow me to learn about a woman who I had never heard of. As a teacher for thirty plus years, it often amazes and disappoints me that I never knew of these courageous, fearless, and audacious women of the war, and could not extend that knowledge to my students.
---I developed a keen admiration for Nancy Wake and her heroics during a time when it seemed heroics were secret, scary, and death defying.
---The descriptions of her trials and what she accomplished were mesmerizing and worthy of the highest note and regard.
--- It made the reader once again realize that women, along with men, fought for freedom, for justice for all, and for the ability to throw off oppression and totalitarianism
--- 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.
---It encouraged me to learn more about Nancy Wake
What I disliked
--- 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.
---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
---It once again disappointed me because I felt that this courageous stalwart woman's story was overwhelmed by the love at first sight and titillation of the sexual attraction between her virile, gorgeous wealthy husband and herself. Was this not a story of how Nancy could and did stand on her own?
So maybe..
---My mood was not right for this book
---I expect too much from an historical fiction book
---My patience and concentration was off
---I need to stay away from this genre for awhile
All in all it was not a bad book. It did irk me though that the story seemed to play up Nancy's sexual beauty and ability to attract any man, instead of her overwhelming courage, bravery, and resilience in the time where these attributes were most needed Please do look at the amazing reviews that others have written about this story. It's probably me, but I wanted more from this story.
May 21, 2020
Nancy Wake was a New Zealand-born, Australian-raised nurse and journalist who joined the French Resistance and later the British SOE – Special Operations Executive – during World War II. Her exploits during the war earned her the George Medal from the UK, the Medal of Freedom from the US, the Légion d’honneur from France and medals from Australia and New Zealand – she became Australia’s most decorated heroine in World War II. Her exploits also earned her the title ‘The White Mouse’ from the Gestapo because she was so difficult to catch. Author, Ariel Lawhon has penned her historical fiction novel, "Code Name Hélène" using facts gleaned from Nancy’s autobiography, "The White Mouse" as well as from the works of other biographers to paint as accurate a picture as possible of this extremely brave and unique person. The story covers Nancy’s life from the early 1930s when she was a journalist based in Paris (at one time she interviewed one Adolph Hitler) through her time with the French Resistance and finally, the SOE. It is an extraordinary journey by a remarkable woman.
Author, Ariel Lawhon has done a creditable job in turning Nancy Wake’s exploits into a hard-to-put down thriller. The characters, most of them real, come to life and when it comes to the character of Nancy’s husband, Henri it brings a heart-warming touch to the otherwise gruesome exploits that are so well told, at times all too vividly, in "Code Name Hélène". There are scenes which are not for the faint-hearted. Flashbacks occur from time to time as the reader is taken to Nancy’s earlier life in Paris and later, in the earlier years of the war, assisting Jews to get across the border to safety but at times the story loses momentum and becomes almost boring until the commencement of the war. The flashbacks can become a distraction as they inevitably occur just at the point of a knife-edge part of the narrative, especially when Nancy is working for the SOE. That aside, it is a fascinating insight into the life of a heroine the likes of which the world does not often see. At times, it appears that the story is so far-fetched it could not possibly be true, but a few Google searches will reveal just how accurate the author’s research has been. Despite the minor negativity in structure of the book, "Code Name Hélène" is a great story, well told.
Author, Ariel Lawhon has done a creditable job in turning Nancy Wake’s exploits into a hard-to-put down thriller. The characters, most of them real, come to life and when it comes to the character of Nancy’s husband, Henri it brings a heart-warming touch to the otherwise gruesome exploits that are so well told, at times all too vividly, in "Code Name Hélène". There are scenes which are not for the faint-hearted. Flashbacks occur from time to time as the reader is taken to Nancy’s earlier life in Paris and later, in the earlier years of the war, assisting Jews to get across the border to safety but at times the story loses momentum and becomes almost boring until the commencement of the war. The flashbacks can become a distraction as they inevitably occur just at the point of a knife-edge part of the narrative, especially when Nancy is working for the SOE. That aside, it is a fascinating insight into the life of a heroine the likes of which the world does not often see. At times, it appears that the story is so far-fetched it could not possibly be true, but a few Google searches will reveal just how accurate the author’s research has been. Despite the minor negativity in structure of the book, "Code Name Hélène" is a great story, well told.
Shelved as 'dnf'
July 7, 2020The real life story of Nancy Wake's work for the French Resistance during WWII is fascinating, but the writing style and the eye-rolling, insta-love watered down the accomplishments of this amazing woman.
I abandoned the book and spent some time online reading about Nancy Wake, which was far more satisfying.
I abandoned the book and spent some time online reading about Nancy Wake, which was far more satisfying.
May 27, 2020
Q:
Nancy Wake... Nancy Fiocca—is the kind of woman who conquers the world. Fearless. Ferocious. Nancy is the sort of woman who bathes in a meteor shower. She is not the kind of woman who concedes to anyone. (c)
The ragged timeline actually made this novel a lot worse than it could have been.
This is not anywhere close to a contender for the title of the best book about WW2. Lots is severely watered down. For example, I was extremely irritated with that lipstick nonsense going on: for people who actually fought Hitler, lipstick wasn't a priority, no matter what.
Still, a passable read with other good points going for it.
The ending's... ughhh... definitely not what I like. Sadly, it's c
Q:
I have gone by many names.
... My identity is an ever-shifting thing that adapts to the need at hand. (c)
Q:
“Are you always so difficult?”
“I assure you, this is the agreeable version of myself.” (с)
Q:
“We have a problem.”
“More than one, apparently, by the look on your face. But start with the most urgent.” (c)
Q:
“You have no idea where my mind is.”
“Quite happily frolicking about the gutter, I’d say.” (c)
Q:
The friendships of women are strange and wonderful. Fraught and irreplaceable. (c)
Q:
“It means, ma chère, that one day we will remember our friends and count the dead.” (c)
Q:
“People might get the wrong idea.”
“What people? You?”
“Henri asked me to look out for you while he is gone.”
“He didn’t mention that.”
“He wouldn’t want you to know, of course.”
“My husband and I do not keep secrets from each other, Commissioner.”
The commissioner’s mustache twitches in anger. “Then he will not mind hearing that you have been entertaining strange men in his absence.”
“There is nothing strange about the men in my flat. And I am certain that my husband will be delighted to hear that my cousins have come to visit me. He’s rather fond of them.”“Cousins?”
“Yes. The sons of my mother’s brothers. Have you no cousins of your own?”
“I find it difficult to believe that—”
“Are we really going to stand here and argue about the tangled nature of my family tree while my guests are left unattended?” (c)
Q:
... Your wife is a criminal, Henri Fiocca.”
All the air rushes from his lungs in a grunt. His wife hasn’t been sleeping with other men. “Is that all?”
“I thought you’d be furious!”
“And I thought you were about to say you’d taken a lover. By comparison, espionage seems saintly.” (c)
Q:
“It was just gibberish at first. A good hour of it. You know, the typical nonsense. ‘The crocodile is thirsty’ or ‘You may now shake the trees and gather the pears’ or ‘Is Mrs. Munchkin ready to play a game of boules in the yonder dark forest?’ Just all that garbage they spout every night as misinformation. But then it came. That one phrase. ‘I wish I was by the seaside at sunrise.’ And everyone knew.” (c)
Q:
I’m fairly certain there is pond scum in my bra. Possibly my underwear as well. The thought of what I’ll find when I get to the shower makes me a little uneasy. (c)
Q:
“If you tell me I have failed this test I am going to wring your neck.” (c)
Nancy Wake... Nancy Fiocca—is the kind of woman who conquers the world. Fearless. Ferocious. Nancy is the sort of woman who bathes in a meteor shower. She is not the kind of woman who concedes to anyone. (c)
The ragged timeline actually made this novel a lot worse than it could have been.
This is not anywhere close to a contender for the title of the best book about WW2. Lots is severely watered down. For example, I was extremely irritated with that lipstick nonsense going on: for people who actually fought Hitler, lipstick wasn't a priority, no matter what.
Still, a passable read with other good points going for it.
The ending's... ughhh... definitely not what I like. Sadly, it's c
Q:
I have gone by many names.
... My identity is an ever-shifting thing that adapts to the need at hand. (c)
Q:
“Are you always so difficult?”
“I assure you, this is the agreeable version of myself.” (с)
Q:
“We have a problem.”
“More than one, apparently, by the look on your face. But start with the most urgent.” (c)
Q:
“You have no idea where my mind is.”
“Quite happily frolicking about the gutter, I’d say.” (c)
Q:
The friendships of women are strange and wonderful. Fraught and irreplaceable. (c)
Q:
“It means, ma chère, that one day we will remember our friends and count the dead.” (c)
Q:
“People might get the wrong idea.”
“What people? You?”
“Henri asked me to look out for you while he is gone.”
“He didn’t mention that.”
“He wouldn’t want you to know, of course.”
“My husband and I do not keep secrets from each other, Commissioner.”
The commissioner’s mustache twitches in anger. “Then he will not mind hearing that you have been entertaining strange men in his absence.”
“There is nothing strange about the men in my flat. And I am certain that my husband will be delighted to hear that my cousins have come to visit me. He’s rather fond of them.”“Cousins?”
“Yes. The sons of my mother’s brothers. Have you no cousins of your own?”
“I find it difficult to believe that—”
“Are we really going to stand here and argue about the tangled nature of my family tree while my guests are left unattended?” (c)
Q:
... Your wife is a criminal, Henri Fiocca.”
All the air rushes from his lungs in a grunt. His wife hasn’t been sleeping with other men. “Is that all?”
“I thought you’d be furious!”
“And I thought you were about to say you’d taken a lover. By comparison, espionage seems saintly.” (c)
Q:
“It was just gibberish at first. A good hour of it. You know, the typical nonsense. ‘The crocodile is thirsty’ or ‘You may now shake the trees and gather the pears’ or ‘Is Mrs. Munchkin ready to play a game of boules in the yonder dark forest?’ Just all that garbage they spout every night as misinformation. But then it came. That one phrase. ‘I wish I was by the seaside at sunrise.’ And everyone knew.” (c)
Q:
I’m fairly certain there is pond scum in my bra. Possibly my underwear as well. The thought of what I’ll find when I get to the shower makes me a little uneasy. (c)
Q:
“If you tell me I have failed this test I am going to wring your neck.” (c)
January 23, 2020
I'm a sucker for a true story. Although categorized as historical fiction, the core characters and events in this book are real.
I was sitting on a solid 4 stars throughout 75% of this book, but the last quarter (and also the author's note at the end) blew it up to a 5 star read for me. Color me obsessed with Nancy Grace Augusta Wake, aka The White Mouse/Madame Andree, code name Helene. She was fierce, salty, irreverent, strong, and unapologetic. She threw on a coat of Lizzie Arden's Victory Red and BROKE BAT on some Nazis. I loved every minute of her adventures - as soon as I finished the last page I immediately pushed this book on every member of my IRL book club, along with doing the same on my bookish Facebook account. It's that good.
DO NOT GOOGLE HER STORY BEFORE YOU READ THIS BOOK. There will be spoilers. The author did an incredible job sticking as closely to the real story as she could, and in her notes at the end lays out exactly where and when she altered the timeline and/or any characters.
Publishing March 31, 2020, I am deeply grateful to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me an early peek at this gem of a novel. PUT. IT. ON. YOUR. READING. LIST. NOW.
PS - This would make an amazing book club book.
PPS - Someone better adapt this for film. It would be incredible!
I was sitting on a solid 4 stars throughout 75% of this book, but the last quarter (and also the author's note at the end) blew it up to a 5 star read for me. Color me obsessed with Nancy Grace Augusta Wake, aka The White Mouse/Madame Andree, code name Helene. She was fierce, salty, irreverent, strong, and unapologetic. She threw on a coat of Lizzie Arden's Victory Red and BROKE BAT on some Nazis. I loved every minute of her adventures - as soon as I finished the last page I immediately pushed this book on every member of my IRL book club, along with doing the same on my bookish Facebook account. It's that good.
DO NOT GOOGLE HER STORY BEFORE YOU READ THIS BOOK. There will be spoilers. The author did an incredible job sticking as closely to the real story as she could, and in her notes at the end lays out exactly where and when she altered the timeline and/or any characters.
Publishing March 31, 2020, I am deeply grateful to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me an early peek at this gem of a novel. PUT. IT. ON. YOUR. READING. LIST. NOW.
PS - This would make an amazing book club book.
PPS - Someone better adapt this for film. It would be incredible!
Shelved as 'dnf'
May 4, 2020DNF @ 2%
Sorry, I know the real Nancy Wake loved her lipstick and who among us doesn't, but this incredible woman did not kill a Nazi with her bare hands for her fictionalized life story to be this inane.
[NB: I 'DNF' a lot of books at 2% and don't bother adding them to Goodreads, because I am the first to acknowledge that this doesn't even count as giving a book a proper chance. I'm adding this for my own reference, so I remember down the line that this was a rage quit and not something I was mildly bored with.]
"I raise one palm and shove it toward his face while I unbuckle myself with my other hand. He's muttering profanities as I unzip my purse and dig through the contents looking for my tube of Lizzie Arden lipstick. For once, I'm not concerned about my forged travel documents or the one million French francs neatly stacked inside. Nor do I double-check that I still have the list of targets that must, no matter what, be distributed once the Allied forces land in France. I am frantic to find that slender tube of courage. Victory Red. The color of war and confidence and freedom. Finally, my pinky brushes against the cool, familiar metal and I pluck it from my purse along with the silver compact Buckmaster gave me as a parting gift. We've now passed the drop zone and the Liberator turns back around in a lazy, rumbling circle, but I meticulously apply the lipstick.
"What on earth are you doing?" the dispatcher shouts.
"Putting on my armor."
Sorry, I know the real Nancy Wake loved her lipstick and who among us doesn't, but this incredible woman did not kill a Nazi with her bare hands for her fictionalized life story to be this inane.
[NB: I 'DNF' a lot of books at 2% and don't bother adding them to Goodreads, because I am the first to acknowledge that this doesn't even count as giving a book a proper chance. I'm adding this for my own reference, so I remember down the line that this was a rage quit and not something I was mildly bored with.]
February 4, 2021
This book fictionalizes the true story of Nancy Wake, a woman living in Paris who finds herself undertaking acts of perilous sabotage and subversion against the Germans during World War II using multiple aliases. Excellent!
April 1, 2020
I have read many stories of the famous Australian, Nancy Wake; I even have her biography autographed by Nancy herself. I found Code Name Helene to be refreshing and heartwarmingly real. Nancy Wake went through several years of pure hell during WWII but it was when she met her husband-to-be, Henri Fiocca in 1936 that she found, for the first time in her life, true love. Nancy and Henri hadn’t been married long when war was declared and Henri was called up to fight, leaving Nancy home alone. It didn’t take her long to start working for the French Resistance and she eventually became the White Mouse, named because the Germans were unable to find and capture her.
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.
Code Name Helene was a thoroughly enjoyable read by Ariel Lawhon. Nancy’s dry wit had me laughing out loud; her signature red lipstick and her supreme courage, plus her normal, every day life when she was with Henri made Code Name Helene a well researched, exceptionally put together novel. Although based heavily on fact, this is a fictional tale, well told. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
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.
Code Name Helene was a thoroughly enjoyable read by Ariel Lawhon. Nancy’s dry wit had me laughing out loud; her signature red lipstick and her supreme courage, plus her normal, every day life when she was with Henri made Code Name Helene a well researched, exceptionally put together novel. Although based heavily on fact, this is a fictional tale, well told. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
May 12, 2020
Unputdownable! Nancy Wake is every writer's dream of a real-life person's life story to fictionalize. And Ariel Lawhon handles the details flawlessly. Highly recommend...
April 1, 2020
4 strong historical fiction stars
At 464 pages, this one is a tale you can really sink your teeth into. It has many elements of historical fiction that I love – strong female character, WWII France, resistance efforts, a bit of a love story, espionage, dastardly Germans. It’s even better that it is based on a real person – Nancy Wake Fiocca, an Australian woman who becomes fiercely French and is determined to drive the Nazis out of her adopted country.
The book takes the alternate storyline approach, so I had to pay some attention to characters and what happens to them. Nancy aka Helene aka Lucienne Carlier aka the White Mouse aka Madam Andree – all wrapped up into an amazingly brave woman. Her trademark is to wear bright red lipstick and she commands the respect of the Maquis forces that she is arming with help from London. I love the fact that her husband has taught her the full range of swear words in French – those come in handy dealing with these Frenchmen!
There is a terrific love story with Henri, but much more focus is on her resistance efforts and how she comes to be such a formidable presence in the war. She is a fascinating character and I was completely sucked into the story, especially the second half. She started out as a journalist and one of her early assignments was interviewing Adolf Hitler before he came to power. She also attends a Nazi rally. I know it shouldn’t shock me, but her magazine wouldn’t publish the bylines for women writers at this time, they could choose a male pseudonym or be not listed at all.
There are tense scenes through the book with harrowing escapes, torture, details on how the British helped the French patriots, training to become a British agent – all of it was highly researched by the author. Near the end of her life, she became highly decorated and recognized for her strong contributions to the war.
If you like historical fiction, I think this one you would enjoy! It doesn’t earn the full 5 stars because I think it could have been edited down a bit.
Thank to Edelweiss, Doubleday, and author Ariel Lawhon for a copy of this one to read and review. This one is available now!
At 464 pages, this one is a tale you can really sink your teeth into. It has many elements of historical fiction that I love – strong female character, WWII France, resistance efforts, a bit of a love story, espionage, dastardly Germans. It’s even better that it is based on a real person – Nancy Wake Fiocca, an Australian woman who becomes fiercely French and is determined to drive the Nazis out of her adopted country.
The book takes the alternate storyline approach, so I had to pay some attention to characters and what happens to them. Nancy aka Helene aka Lucienne Carlier aka the White Mouse aka Madam Andree – all wrapped up into an amazingly brave woman. Her trademark is to wear bright red lipstick and she commands the respect of the Maquis forces that she is arming with help from London. I love the fact that her husband has taught her the full range of swear words in French – those come in handy dealing with these Frenchmen!
There is a terrific love story with Henri, but much more focus is on her resistance efforts and how she comes to be such a formidable presence in the war. She is a fascinating character and I was completely sucked into the story, especially the second half. She started out as a journalist and one of her early assignments was interviewing Adolf Hitler before he came to power. She also attends a Nazi rally. I know it shouldn’t shock me, but her magazine wouldn’t publish the bylines for women writers at this time, they could choose a male pseudonym or be not listed at all.
There are tense scenes through the book with harrowing escapes, torture, details on how the British helped the French patriots, training to become a British agent – all of it was highly researched by the author. Near the end of her life, she became highly decorated and recognized for her strong contributions to the war.
If you like historical fiction, I think this one you would enjoy! It doesn’t earn the full 5 stars because I think it could have been edited down a bit.
Thank to Edelweiss, Doubleday, and author Ariel Lawhon for a copy of this one to read and review. This one is available now!
November 28, 2022
Code Name Hélène is a story about wartime heroine Nancy Grace Augusta Wake, she was born in New Zealand in 1912 and moved to Sydney, Australia when she was a toddler. Nancy left Australia at sixteen, America was her first stop, and then she traveled to France to work as a freelance journalist. Here, Nancy meets Henri Fiocca, he owns a ship building company in Marseilles and has a reputation for being a rich playboy.
Henri slowly woes Nancy, they marry in 1939 and the Germans invade France. Henri is called up, Nancy drives her own ambulance at the front and she helps the resistance by smuggling documents and people. The Germans give Nancy the title of, 'The White Mouse', with a bounty on her head, Henri makes her leave France and she crosses the snowy Pyrenees Mountains and travels to England.
Nancy trains to be a Secret Service Operative, her codename is Hélène and during her time in the Auvergne region leading the marquis groups she’s known as Madame Andrée. Nancy has to prove she's capable of being a leader, she does this over and over again. Nancy is brave, bold, bawdy, and brazen and continues to wear her trademark Elizabeth Arden lipstick in victory red. When the group loses radio contact with London, Nancy rides a bike 250 Kilometers and back again to send an important message.
I received a copy of Code Name Hélène by Ariel Lawhon from NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Australia in exchange for an honest review. The well written and impeccably researched narrative looks at the extraordinary achievements of Nancy Wake, a women who loved her husband Henri and her little dog Picon, she hated injustice and the Germans, Nancy fought bravely to free France and was highly respected by her fellow resistance members. Based on true facts, it’s a story about love, war, danger, espionage, courage, bravery, and about a woman who outsmarted the Germans, she’s a real inspiration and a role model for us all and five stars from me.
Henri slowly woes Nancy, they marry in 1939 and the Germans invade France. Henri is called up, Nancy drives her own ambulance at the front and she helps the resistance by smuggling documents and people. The Germans give Nancy the title of, 'The White Mouse', with a bounty on her head, Henri makes her leave France and she crosses the snowy Pyrenees Mountains and travels to England.
Nancy trains to be a Secret Service Operative, her codename is Hélène and during her time in the Auvergne region leading the marquis groups she’s known as Madame Andrée. Nancy has to prove she's capable of being a leader, she does this over and over again. Nancy is brave, bold, bawdy, and brazen and continues to wear her trademark Elizabeth Arden lipstick in victory red. When the group loses radio contact with London, Nancy rides a bike 250 Kilometers and back again to send an important message.
I received a copy of Code Name Hélène by Ariel Lawhon from NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Australia in exchange for an honest review. The well written and impeccably researched narrative looks at the extraordinary achievements of Nancy Wake, a women who loved her husband Henri and her little dog Picon, she hated injustice and the Germans, Nancy fought bravely to free France and was highly respected by her fellow resistance members. Based on true facts, it’s a story about love, war, danger, espionage, courage, bravery, and about a woman who outsmarted the Germans, she’s a real inspiration and a role model for us all and five stars from me.
August 20, 2022
This book confused me at first because of the alternating timelines, but by the end I could see the reason for them. It was an engrossing tale of a woman spy who worked with the French Resistance during WWII. Nancy Wake was an Australian expat who fell in love with France, married a wealthy French industrialist just as the war began, drove an ambulance until France was occupied, and fell into covert activities by happenstance. She was a bawdy, hard-drinking, smart woman who wore lipstick as an armor, cursed with the best of the men she led, and had more courage than most of them. This is a true story, well researched by the author, who used Nancy's real words when she could. Some of her exploits were so daring they are almost unbelievable, except that they are documented. Such as riding a bike 250 km through German occupied territory to use a radio after hers was destroyed, then another 250 km back to her camp to receive a scheduled drop, without rest. Such as killing a feared Nazi with her bare hands in an elevator. Such as getting troops of men to follow her orders, even though she was a woman.
There is a documentary on Amazon Prime about Nancy Wake, which I plan to watch soon. She was much feared by the Gestapo, who called her "The White Mouse" because she eluded capture. She died in 2011.
And there was a dog.
There is a documentary on Amazon Prime about Nancy Wake, which I plan to watch soon. She was much feared by the Gestapo, who called her "The White Mouse" because she eluded capture. She died in 2011.
And there was a dog.
April 29, 2020
1.5 stars. I made it halfway through and then started skimming. The real life story of Nancy Wake is undeniably interesting, but this book is...not. Melodramatic to the point of parody and horribly structured (WHY is the husband's POV included at random?) and the only really interesting part of the story was her involvement with the French Resistance; the narrative about her and her husband pre-war reads like it was cut-and-pasted from a completely different (and equally bad) romance novel. Also, and most gravely!, this novel commits my least favorite sin via The Beautiful Red-Lipsticked Protagonist (With Curves In All The Right Places) Who Every Single Man (Every. Single. Man.) She Encounters Wants To Bang But Don't Worry She's Weaponized Her Femininity So She'll Just Threaten To Kick Them In The Balls (And They'll Only Love Her All The More.)
February 11, 2022
Historical fiction published 2020.
4.5 stars rounded up to 5.
Audio book narrated by Barrie Kreinek & Peter Ganim.
Both narrators made solid performances in the telling of the story.
This is a historical fiction based on the true story of Nancy Wake (the white mouse)(Helene) and many other aliases. An Australian woman who at one time was on the most wanted list of the Nazi regime in occupied France during WW2.
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.
She helped whom ever she could to escape from the clutches of the Gestapo, she organised weapon drops for the resistance fighters, she ran and commanded freedom fighter and every man in her company new who the boss was. When she said jump the response was always “how high”
This is a two part story the other part concerns the love of her life ‘Henri Fiocca’ a Frenchman she fell in love with and married.
The story has an ever changing timeline. We might be with Nancy as her romance with Henri blossoms only to jump forward a few years as Nancy is lighting fires to guide RAF planes to a drop site for a weapons drop.
This might sound a bit confusing but it works really well as we learn about the woman and what drive her to do the things she does.
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 story of Nancy and Henri.
So all in all this is a well rounded entertaining read.
4.5 stars rounded up to 5.
Audio book narrated by Barrie Kreinek & Peter Ganim.
Both narrators made solid performances in the telling of the story.
This is a historical fiction based on the true story of Nancy Wake (the white mouse)(Helene) and many other aliases. An Australian woman who at one time was on the most wanted list of the Nazi regime in occupied France during WW2.
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.
She helped whom ever she could to escape from the clutches of the Gestapo, she organised weapon drops for the resistance fighters, she ran and commanded freedom fighter and every man in her company new who the boss was. When she said jump the response was always “how high”
This is a two part story the other part concerns the love of her life ‘Henri Fiocca’ a Frenchman she fell in love with and married.
The story has an ever changing timeline. We might be with Nancy as her romance with Henri blossoms only to jump forward a few years as Nancy is lighting fires to guide RAF planes to a drop site for a weapons drop.
This might sound a bit confusing but it works really well as we learn about the woman and what drive her to do the things she does.
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 story of Nancy and Henri.
So all in all this is a well rounded entertaining read.
February 10, 2020
1936. Australian expat, Nancy Wake, lives in Paris and works as a freelancer. She has paved her way onto the roster at Hearst.
When the story starts progressing with her investigative work, the moment I thought I was getting into it, another man’s facial description pops up. It’s like some kind of infatuation with facial descriptions.
When the story starts alternating to different places, for a moment it felt as it was about to pick up the pace, but then it’s on and on about broken camera.
The story of Nancy Wake is fascinating. I wanted to learn about her work, what she endured and how she inspired. But her story is buried in overdone descriptions, making the story move very slowly.
There are readers who enjoy descriptive style of writing. If you are one of them, then I’d recommend looking at reviews of those who liked this book.
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
When the story starts progressing with her investigative work, the moment I thought I was getting into it, another man’s facial description pops up. It’s like some kind of infatuation with facial descriptions.
When the story starts alternating to different places, for a moment it felt as it was about to pick up the pace, but then it’s on and on about broken camera.
The story of Nancy Wake is fascinating. I wanted to learn about her work, what she endured and how she inspired. But her story is buried in overdone descriptions, making the story move very slowly.
There are readers who enjoy descriptive style of writing. If you are one of them, then I’d recommend looking at reviews of those who liked this book.
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 1, 2019
This is strong historical WWII fiction based on the resistance work of glamorous socialite turned secret agent, Nancy Wake. Fearless, audacious, and resolute, Wake was a force to be reckoned with all while wearing red Chanel lipstick. Now there’s a woman after my heart. Going by four different code names she thwarted the Nazis at every turn and became the “most wanted” with a sizable price on her head. She also took on members of the resistance who balked at taking orders from a woman with the power to deliver arms from the Allies. Wakes was larger than life and what a life she had.
December 9, 2021
Code Name Helene was a riveting historical fiction account of the life of Nancy Grace Augusta Wake by Ariel Lawhon. Originally from Australia, Wake worked as a freelance journalist for three years for the Hearst Corporation in London and Paris. Later joining the French Resistance during World War II in France, she had many identities including the notorious "White Mouse" as she was known to the Nazis. While Ariel Lawhon states that she wanted to concentrate on what made Nancy Wake one of the most decorated women of the war, not only the fact that she was a spy but a respected military leader during her time with the Maquis.
This was such an engaging book from beginning to end. It is difficult to say much more without getting into spoiler territory and this book is developed so beautifully with divergent timelines that I don't want to give anything away. It is best discovered as it is read. A few of my favorite passages:
One of my favorite aspects of the book is the importance that Nancy Wake attributes to her lipstick and applied it frequently as her armor, her red badge of courage. This passage says it best:
Victor Hugo and his works play a big part throughout this story and many quotations from his books are used as epigraphs.
This was such an engaging book from beginning to end. It is difficult to say much more without getting into spoiler territory and this book is developed so beautifully with divergent timelines that I don't want to give anything away. It is best discovered as it is read. A few of my favorite passages:
"It looks like a painting. Marseille is a city of hilltop villas and sleek yachts. Tile roofs. Beryl seas. Tanned legs. Twisting, narrow streets. Its central thoroughfare, the Canebiere, leads from the glinting waters of the Mediterranean straight into the hills that drip with grapevines. It smells of salt water, baking bread, and bouillabaisse. Of fresh basil and day lilies. There are fish markets and casinos. Hotels and dance halls. Bistros. Beaches. Cafes. Tiny little parks that are half the size of a city block. And flowers everywhere. It is a cascade of color. It is overwhelming in the most delicious way."
"War is a calamity. It brings sorrow and loss of life. It hardens the human soul.
One of my favorite aspects of the book is the importance that Nancy Wake attributes to her lipstick and applied it frequently as her armor, her red badge of courage. This passage says it best:
"The thing about lipstick, the reason it is so powerful, is that it is distracting. Men don't see the flashes of anger in your eyes or your clenched fists when you wear it. They see a woman, not a warrior, and that gives me the advantage. I cannot throw a decent punch or carry a grown man across a battlefield, but I can wear red lipstick as though my life depends on it. And the truth is, these days, it often does."
Victor Hugo and his works play a big part throughout this story and many quotations from his books are used as epigraphs.
"Gentlemen of the human race, I say to hell with the lot of you.----- VICTOR HUGO, LES MISERABLES
"You who suffer because you love, love still more. To die of love, is to live by it."----- VICTOR HUGO, LES MISERABLES
March 11, 2020
I love a good historical fiction story and Code Name Hélène did not disappoint. This powerful and thrilling WWII story is fictional but it’s based on the remarkable young socialite Nancy Wake who went off to war while her French husband stayed behind.
I loved Nancy’s character she was a feisty and independent woman who used profanity liberally and with flair and could drink any man under the table, she even killed a Nazi with her bare hands! Nancy applied her lipstick like a badge of honour in the shade of Victory Red.
Nancy was raised in Australia, living in Paris and working as a freelance reporter for a London paper. In Paris she meets and finally agrees to marry handsome French industrialist Henri Fiocca just prior to the war breaking out in France.
Nancy was integral to the French Resistance’s fight against the Nazi’s, smuggling people and documents across the border.
Eventually she was forced to flee France from the Gestapo due to a bounty on her head. Nancy ends up in London and is trained by an elite espionage group under the code name Helene and once trained is parachuted back to France.
Code Name Helene is an enchanting story of a beautiful marriage, friendships, war, bravery, tragedy and the sacrifices made by both Helene and Henri.
Nancy became one of the most decorated women of World War II, she was a strong and respected military leader.
An extremely well written story that is full of heart, soul and excitement.
I wish to thank Better Reading, Simon & Schuster & NetGalley for providing me with a copy to read in return for an honest review.
I loved Nancy’s character she was a feisty and independent woman who used profanity liberally and with flair and could drink any man under the table, she even killed a Nazi with her bare hands! Nancy applied her lipstick like a badge of honour in the shade of Victory Red.
Nancy was raised in Australia, living in Paris and working as a freelance reporter for a London paper. In Paris she meets and finally agrees to marry handsome French industrialist Henri Fiocca just prior to the war breaking out in France.
Nancy was integral to the French Resistance’s fight against the Nazi’s, smuggling people and documents across the border.
Eventually she was forced to flee France from the Gestapo due to a bounty on her head. Nancy ends up in London and is trained by an elite espionage group under the code name Helene and once trained is parachuted back to France.
Code Name Helene is an enchanting story of a beautiful marriage, friendships, war, bravery, tragedy and the sacrifices made by both Helene and Henri.
Nancy became one of the most decorated women of World War II, she was a strong and respected military leader.
An extremely well written story that is full of heart, soul and excitement.
I wish to thank Better Reading, Simon & Schuster & NetGalley for providing me with a copy to read in return for an honest review.
November 21, 2023
Nancy Augusta Wake was a force. I can just see her arming herself with her Victory Red lipstick.
She was passionate in her love for her dear husband, Henri, and her determination to defeat the Nazis. Lawhon describes her as a"bold, bawdy, and brazen woman." You cannot help but fall in love with her despite her drinking and swearing habits. She killed a Nazi with her bare hands! The book begins with dual timelines: 1944 when Nancy is dropped on a field in France to support the Maquis; and in 1939 when she witnesses the atrocities of the Nazis firsthand in the square in Vienna. This is an incredible story and Lawhon has taken the time to do her research giving us much more fact than fiction. If you love an epic love story set against the backdrop of WW II, this book is for you. If you love to see a woman rise to the occasion and lead men out in the midst of war, this book is for you. "I Was Anastasia" was a very good read, but this new book from Lawhon is phenomenal.
Thank you to Doubleday and NetGalley for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
She was passionate in her love for her dear husband, Henri, and her determination to defeat the Nazis. Lawhon describes her as a"bold, bawdy, and brazen woman." You cannot help but fall in love with her despite her drinking and swearing habits. She killed a Nazi with her bare hands! The book begins with dual timelines: 1944 when Nancy is dropped on a field in France to support the Maquis; and in 1939 when she witnesses the atrocities of the Nazis firsthand in the square in Vienna. This is an incredible story and Lawhon has taken the time to do her research giving us much more fact than fiction. If you love an epic love story set against the backdrop of WW II, this book is for you. If you love to see a woman rise to the occasion and lead men out in the midst of war, this book is for you. "I Was Anastasia" was a very good read, but this new book from Lawhon is phenomenal.
Thank you to Doubleday and NetGalley for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 5, 2022
Tai knyga apie moterį, kurį žengė į mūšio lauką kaip lygiavertė kovotoja ir užsitarnavo kovotojų vyrų pagalbą, moterį, su kuria buvo skaitomasi ir kuriai paklūstama. Apie drąsią kovotoja, plikomis rankomis nužudžiusią nacių karininką.
Tikrai stipri, jautri,bet graži knyga, apie nepaprastą meilę, draugystę, pasiaukojimą ir ryžtą.🙂
Tikrai stipri, jautri,bet graži knyga, apie nepaprastą meilę, draugystę, pasiaukojimą ir ryžtą.🙂
February 1, 2024
Genre: WW2 historical fiction
Trigger Warnings: war, violence, death, torture
Keywords: WW2, French Resistance, Nancy Wake, women of the WW2
Rating: 5/5 ⭐
"I have gone by many names.
Some of them are real—I was given four at birth alone—but most are carefully constructed personas to get me through checkpoints and across borders. They are lies scribbled on forged travel documents. Typed neatly in government files. Splashed across wanted posters. My identity is an ever-shifting thing that adapts to the need at hand.
Tonight, I am Hélène and I am going home."
I have always loved WW2 novels; I think they have a special way of making you feel, a unique method of making you see what monsters are lurking in this world. Reading this was no different. It was about love and justice, bravery and friendship. It was about the human nature and the lengths someone is willing to go for love, country and freedom or, on the other hand, for domination and wickedness.
》》The Plot《《
This novel follows the life of Nancy Wake, one of the most extraordinary women I had ever read about. She was a hero during the WW2, saving hundreds of lives by smuggling people and documents and, later on, joining the French Resistance as part of the SOE unit. She was admired and respected in a way not many women were during those times and her life story is one of utter fascination.
“I tell you that Gaspard—the greatest herpes blister in all of France—is walking through our camp, and you put on lipstick.”
“Would you go into battle without a bulletproof vest?” I ask.
“No.”
“Neither would I.”
It covers a lot of her life, including part of her years as a freelance journalist, her meeting with Henri Fiocca and her marriage to him, her time spent smuggling documents and people out of Occupied France, her flea from France and her training as a SEO agent, with particular attention on her time spent back in France with the Maquis, as a British contact.
》》Personal Opinion and Feelings 《《
I loved how the author has clarified what was indeed taken from Nancy's autobiography and what was altered at times to better fit the narrative.
“I’m not afraid,” I say.
“You should be. I am.”
“Then that’s how we differ. Because I am angry.”
He shakes his head. “You are a terrifying woman, Nancy Wake.”
It's not the first book I've read about Nancy Wake; I've also read Liberation by Imogen Kealey last year and that's how I found out about this imposing female hero. Unlike Liberation, this book didn't focus only on Nancy's bravery during her time with the French Maquis, but also on her relationship with Henri Fiocca, her husband, from the very beginning. And everything that happened with the two of them just became my favorite real life love story. Because all WW2 novels shock you with unspeakable atrocities that show what true monsters lie beneath the human skin, or what brave and patriotic men and women can accomplish even when all odds are against them, but very few can fill their readers with emotion with a love story so pure, so raw and so real.
"Nancy Wake—no, Henri reminds himself, Nancy Fiocca—is the kind of woman who conquers the world. Fearless. Ferocious. Nancy is the sort of woman who bathes in a meteor shower. She is not the kind of woman who concedes to anyone."
I can't do justice with words about how extraordinary I find this woman, also known as The White Mouse, and searched for by the Germans. Her entire life was eventful and surprising, full of remarkable moments, even before the war.
“How do you know all of this?”
“I interviewed Hitler once.”
I don't think I'll ever have enough of her.
》》Conclusion《《
"I am the same but different, and I greet this new reflection with a nod of acceptance. There is metal in my spine and there are fractures in my soul. I resemble Garrow now. I have been changed by war."
This novel was skilfully written in such a gripping manner that I couldn't put it down. It portrayed one of the most beautiful and, unfortunately, tragic love stories, bravery and determination beyond imagination and the mark the war leaves on everyone and everything, even after the dust has settled. It was as much about war as it was about humans and what we are capable of, both a warning and a plea: to be kinder, to be better, to remember our past, our ancestors and what sacrifices were made and to build a better future.
"The rest, as they say, is history. Or, if you prefer, her story."
Trigger Warnings: war, violence, death, torture
Keywords: WW2, French Resistance, Nancy Wake, women of the WW2
Rating: 5/5 ⭐
"I have gone by many names.
Some of them are real—I was given four at birth alone—but most are carefully constructed personas to get me through checkpoints and across borders. They are lies scribbled on forged travel documents. Typed neatly in government files. Splashed across wanted posters. My identity is an ever-shifting thing that adapts to the need at hand.
Tonight, I am Hélène and I am going home."
I have always loved WW2 novels; I think they have a special way of making you feel, a unique method of making you see what monsters are lurking in this world. Reading this was no different. It was about love and justice, bravery and friendship. It was about the human nature and the lengths someone is willing to go for love, country and freedom or, on the other hand, for domination and wickedness.
》》The Plot《《
This novel follows the life of Nancy Wake, one of the most extraordinary women I had ever read about. She was a hero during the WW2, saving hundreds of lives by smuggling people and documents and, later on, joining the French Resistance as part of the SOE unit. She was admired and respected in a way not many women were during those times and her life story is one of utter fascination.
“I tell you that Gaspard—the greatest herpes blister in all of France—is walking through our camp, and you put on lipstick.”
“Would you go into battle without a bulletproof vest?” I ask.
“No.”
“Neither would I.”
It covers a lot of her life, including part of her years as a freelance journalist, her meeting with Henri Fiocca and her marriage to him, her time spent smuggling documents and people out of Occupied France, her flea from France and her training as a SEO agent, with particular attention on her time spent back in France with the Maquis, as a British contact.
》》Personal Opinion and Feelings 《《
I loved how the author has clarified what was indeed taken from Nancy's autobiography and what was altered at times to better fit the narrative.
“I’m not afraid,” I say.
“You should be. I am.”
“Then that’s how we differ. Because I am angry.”
He shakes his head. “You are a terrifying woman, Nancy Wake.”
It's not the first book I've read about Nancy Wake; I've also read Liberation by Imogen Kealey last year and that's how I found out about this imposing female hero. Unlike Liberation, this book didn't focus only on Nancy's bravery during her time with the French Maquis, but also on her relationship with Henri Fiocca, her husband, from the very beginning. And everything that happened with the two of them just became my favorite real life love story. Because all WW2 novels shock you with unspeakable atrocities that show what true monsters lie beneath the human skin, or what brave and patriotic men and women can accomplish even when all odds are against them, but very few can fill their readers with emotion with a love story so pure, so raw and so real.
"Nancy Wake—no, Henri reminds himself, Nancy Fiocca—is the kind of woman who conquers the world. Fearless. Ferocious. Nancy is the sort of woman who bathes in a meteor shower. She is not the kind of woman who concedes to anyone."
I can't do justice with words about how extraordinary I find this woman, also known as The White Mouse, and searched for by the Germans. Her entire life was eventful and surprising, full of remarkable moments, even before the war.
“How do you know all of this?”
“I interviewed Hitler once.”
I don't think I'll ever have enough of her.
》》Conclusion《《
"I am the same but different, and I greet this new reflection with a nod of acceptance. There is metal in my spine and there are fractures in my soul. I resemble Garrow now. I have been changed by war."
This novel was skilfully written in such a gripping manner that I couldn't put it down. It portrayed one of the most beautiful and, unfortunately, tragic love stories, bravery and determination beyond imagination and the mark the war leaves on everyone and everything, even after the dust has settled. It was as much about war as it was about humans and what we are capable of, both a warning and a plea: to be kinder, to be better, to remember our past, our ancestors and what sacrifices were made and to build a better future.
"The rest, as they say, is history. Or, if you prefer, her story."
July 26, 2021
Let's face it, I'm not a historical fiction fan and so it takes a lot for me to be impressed by most historical fiction. This is a good book, just not a great one for me.
First off, I loved learning about Nancy and was stunned that she was a real person. So many women have worked behind the scenes during wars and other events and we have never heard of them. After a little research I discovered that everything in this book actually happened, even the things I was sure were added for dramatic effect.
Unfortunately, this book was WAY too long and I found myself glazing over and wanting to get to the core of the story more quickly. The parts about her relationship with her husband and their sex life was unnecessary in my opinion as well and just served to make the book longer rather than adding to the narrative.
This was my book club choice for the month, I'm glad to have read it but it wasn't my favorite book from this month's reads.
First off, I loved learning about Nancy and was stunned that she was a real person. So many women have worked behind the scenes during wars and other events and we have never heard of them. After a little research I discovered that everything in this book actually happened, even the things I was sure were added for dramatic effect.
Unfortunately, this book was WAY too long and I found myself glazing over and wanting to get to the core of the story more quickly. The parts about her relationship with her husband and their sex life was unnecessary in my opinion as well and just served to make the book longer rather than adding to the narrative.
This was my book club choice for the month, I'm glad to have read it but it wasn't my favorite book from this month's reads.
May 9, 2020
I am sitting here, hands hovering over the keyboard, trying to figure out how in the world I am going to put into words how much I enjoyed this book!
This book alternates time periods, but it all takes place between the 1930’s – 1940’s. The book opens on February 29, 1944, “Leap Day”. Hélène is preparing to jump out of an airplane and into France, but before she can do that she must first apply her red lipstick. It is her armor and she is a saboteur, she is there to help the resistance in any way she can.
Flashback to 1936 and Hélène is Nancy, an Australian journalist working for the Hearst Newspaper in Paris. She loves her job, but it ruffles her feathers that her name will not appear on any of her stories in the paper, Hearst refuses to publish the name of its female journalist. I’d like to see how that would go over in today’s world!
This book has it all – suspense, intrigue, romance, so much more! I absolutely love Hélène AKA Nancy. She is honest, brazen, gutsy, and persuasive. She speaks first and thinks later. This book is intense and addicting, I was so enthralled I could hardly bear to pull myself away from it.
I love that it is based on a real person, place, and events. The Author’s Note at the end is fascinating. She tells the reader what was real and where she needed to make changes in order to create a more fluid story. This book reminds me why I love historical fiction so much. Learning about people, places, and/or events that I had not heard of previously, even with fictional liberty taken, brings me so much joy.
Code Name Hélène shot right up to the top of my favorite books I have read so far this year!
*Thank you Doubleday Books for the opportunity to read and review this book via NetGalley for my honest opinion.
This book alternates time periods, but it all takes place between the 1930’s – 1940’s. The book opens on February 29, 1944, “Leap Day”. Hélène is preparing to jump out of an airplane and into France, but before she can do that she must first apply her red lipstick. It is her armor and she is a saboteur, she is there to help the resistance in any way she can.
Flashback to 1936 and Hélène is Nancy, an Australian journalist working for the Hearst Newspaper in Paris. She loves her job, but it ruffles her feathers that her name will not appear on any of her stories in the paper, Hearst refuses to publish the name of its female journalist. I’d like to see how that would go over in today’s world!
This book has it all – suspense, intrigue, romance, so much more! I absolutely love Hélène AKA Nancy. She is honest, brazen, gutsy, and persuasive. She speaks first and thinks later. This book is intense and addicting, I was so enthralled I could hardly bear to pull myself away from it.
I love that it is based on a real person, place, and events. The Author’s Note at the end is fascinating. She tells the reader what was real and where she needed to make changes in order to create a more fluid story. This book reminds me why I love historical fiction so much. Learning about people, places, and/or events that I had not heard of previously, even with fictional liberty taken, brings me so much joy.
Code Name Hélène shot right up to the top of my favorite books I have read so far this year!
*Thank you Doubleday Books for the opportunity to read and review this book via NetGalley for my honest opinion.
September 25, 2019
PUB DATE April 2020
I was lucky enough to snag an ARC of Code Name Hélène ahead of the Modern Mrs. Darcy Book Club Retreat and the hear Ariel Lawhon's thoughts when she joined the group in person. While I’ve read and enjoyed all of her fiction books- this is hands down my favorite.
Hélène is just one of four code names used by Nancy Wake. A relentless, unapologetic, feminine, brave woman who stood toe-to-toe with her male counterparts in the French Resistance during WWII. Beyond her work in the resistance is a deep, all abiding love to a husband who not only supports her efforts financially, but as a true partner as well. Her story is fascinating and kept me utterly riveted.
Bubbly cocktails. Friendships formed amidst the worst of times. Bold lipstick and brassy language used as weapons. Love and war.
It's no secret that I love books with strong women. Women with gumption. They inspire me. To loosely paraphrase Lawhon "Women like Nancy have always existed. But when men write the history books we don't hear about them." In my opinion- it's time we hear her story because it s so.darn.good!
Don't dismiss this as "just another WWII book" because you would be missing out on an expertly crafted, fabulously written story. Seriously- if this sounds like the book for you add it to your TBR now.
I was lucky enough to snag an ARC of Code Name Hélène ahead of the Modern Mrs. Darcy Book Club Retreat and the hear Ariel Lawhon's thoughts when she joined the group in person. While I’ve read and enjoyed all of her fiction books- this is hands down my favorite.
Hélène is just one of four code names used by Nancy Wake. A relentless, unapologetic, feminine, brave woman who stood toe-to-toe with her male counterparts in the French Resistance during WWII. Beyond her work in the resistance is a deep, all abiding love to a husband who not only supports her efforts financially, but as a true partner as well. Her story is fascinating and kept me utterly riveted.
Bubbly cocktails. Friendships formed amidst the worst of times. Bold lipstick and brassy language used as weapons. Love and war.
It's no secret that I love books with strong women. Women with gumption. They inspire me. To loosely paraphrase Lawhon "Women like Nancy have always existed. But when men write the history books we don't hear about them." In my opinion- it's time we hear her story because it s so.darn.good!
Don't dismiss this as "just another WWII book" because you would be missing out on an expertly crafted, fabulously written story. Seriously- if this sounds like the book for you add it to your TBR now.
April 16, 2021
DNF at 50%
I tried to get through this audiobook...I really did. I even renewed it at the library when my time ran out the first time. But alas...it was way too long and boring! I’m surprised there are so many five star reviews. I must be missing something!
I suppose I was expecting more grit and a plot focused on spying rather than romance. Not that I don’t like romance focused plots but the characters were too one note so the romance aspect didn’t engage me. I need to feel romance and I felt nothing in this one. I didn’t really know, understand or like the characters. I needed more depth. The narrative was long winded and could’ve been edited a lot. In all, a book that seemed to work for many other folks but didn’t work for me.
I tried to get through this audiobook...I really did. I even renewed it at the library when my time ran out the first time. But alas...it was way too long and boring! I’m surprised there are so many five star reviews. I must be missing something!
I suppose I was expecting more grit and a plot focused on spying rather than romance. Not that I don’t like romance focused plots but the characters were too one note so the romance aspect didn’t engage me. I need to feel romance and I felt nothing in this one. I didn’t really know, understand or like the characters. I needed more depth. The narrative was long winded and could’ve been edited a lot. In all, a book that seemed to work for many other folks but didn’t work for me.
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