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More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
Nancy Wake is one of the true heroines of the Second World War. Born in New Zealand, she was living in Marseille and was married to Frenchman Henri Fiocca when the Germans invaded. Nancy immediately became active in the Resistance movement, smuggling messages and food to underground groups in Southern France and helping refugees flee to Spain. By 1943 she was on the Gestapo 'most wanted' list. Their nickname for her, due to her elusiveness, was the 'White Mouse'. It was time for Nancy to leave France. After six escape attempts Nancy reached Britain - where she promptly became one of the thirty-nine women to join the British Special Operations Executive. Parachuted back into France, she became the virtual leader of a 7,000-strong branch of the Maquis. This book tells the extraordinary wartime story of this exceptional woman.
About the Author
RUSSELL BRADDON was born in Sydney in 1921 and educated at the University of Sydney. He was imprisoned in Changi for four years during the Second World War and his controversial book The Naked Island, describing his experiences as a prisoner, became a bestseller. He died in 1995
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
21 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
If anyone deserved a Hollywood blockbuster to be made about her life story, it is Nancy Wake. This book tells the story of a woman who left her home in Australia and met and married a French man in Marseille before the war. Closely identifying with her adopted country, she worked for the Resistance from her home, and was funded by her wealthy and adoring husband. She ran many risks, and was finally forced to flee the country, escaping over the Pyrenees. But once she was back in Britain, she volunteered to return to France to continue fighting the Germans. She trained as an SOE agent, and was parachuted into France, and by dint of personality, came to command a 7000-strong force of Maquisards, organising parachutages, and fighting alongside them on an equal footage.
The blurb on this paperback says that "her war was full of laughter": this is what she told her biographer. Although his prose is sometimes too flippant, and always displays the "chivalrous" attitudes of his time, it is a well-researched book, and conveys Nancy's character well - she loved dressing well and the high life, and there are many instances of her and her men celebrating royally a particular victory. But she was an extraordinary strategist and leader, and this is what surprises me when I look for other books, or films, about her - the fact that she is so little known. Perhaps this is because she had the fortune to survive, so that there is no tragic ending: she lived to be covered with honours, including the George Medal, and to enjoy a long and happy life.
The blurb on this paperback says that "her war was full of laughter": this is what she told her biographer. Although his prose is sometimes too flippant, and always displays the "chivalrous" attitudes of his time, it is a well-researched book, and conveys Nancy's character well - she loved dressing well and the high life, and there are many instances of her and her men celebrating royally a particular victory. But she was an extraordinary strategist and leader, and this is what surprises me when I look for other books, or films, about her - the fact that she is so little known. Perhaps this is because she had the fortune to survive, so that there is no tragic ending: she lived to be covered with honours, including the George Medal, and to enjoy a long and happy life.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is a remarkable story of a unique and very brave woman whose actions saved the lives of many during the German Occupation of France. Her actions and efforts are an inspiration to the young generation today. Such stories must never be forgotten because they highlight the evil that continues to be done by people in power where true democracy has failed.
The book is well written and has some light hearted moments but the the story is gripping and difficult to put down.
The book is well written and has some light hearted moments but the the story is gripping and difficult to put down.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Nancy Wake was an extrodinary woman who acheived so much during the outbreak of WW2 in France. How she came out of it alive and lived to be 98, I am still amazed!! She was one of the few SOE agents who triumphed over the odds and became a decorative, heroic figure. When the Germans entered France she was one of the few who secretly helped the resistance by giving loads of her own money and taking messages to and from places b/c she easily blended in. The Germans couldn't figure out who she was and so they nicknamed her The White Mouse. She was the Most Wanted person by the Gestapo and had the highest bounty out for a single person at that time. She eventually had to escape across the boder to Spain and it explains the hardship it took for her to get across after several tries. She sadly paid a price for everything she had done, Henri, but she came back with guns blazing when she joined the SOE and helped the French resistance become successful in her area. I found Nancy's story very heroic and her book was a very good read!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A real insight
I heard about Nancy Wake when her obituary was in the Times. I enjoy reading about WW2 and she seemed to have had a remarkable life. Read more
Published 3 months ago by N. Goodearl
Wonderful Woman
Although this is a good, well-researched book, it is not a particularly well-written one; I think Mr. Braddon has a rather histrionic style of writing. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Mr. R. D. M. Kirby
Happy Hubby
really pleased with this item arrived in plenty of time and have a very happy hubby who has been wanting to read this book for ages
Published 5 months ago by M. Ferrett
beautifully written
This book is beautifully written about a special prson who didn't publicise her wartime experiences, this showed her to be exceptionally brave and in her own way to make a... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Mr. Henry A. Harris
Stand and deliver
I wish I could review this book. However I ordered AND PAID FOR IT 10 days ago and it still has not been dispatched. Read more
Published 9 months ago by the auditor
A Great insight on SOE operations
The story of a brave brave lady and an insight to how the resistance faired against the German army. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Horses
AMAZING LADY MEMBER OF S.O.E.
ONLY RECENTLY HEARD OF NANCY WAKE SO WANTED TO READ ABOUT HER.AMAZING LADY SO INSPIRING AND BRAVE. A GOOD READ. EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT HER. Read more
Published on 30 Mar 2010 by J. Robinson
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