Code Name Hélène

"Code Name Hélène" was a compelling and meticulously researched novel that brought to life the astonishing true story of Nancy Wake, a glamorous, sharp-witted Australian journalist turned fierce WWII resistance fighter. Ariel Lawhon’s storytelling was vivid and emotionally rich, weaving together love, war, espionage, and an unforgettable heroine who defied expectations at every turn.

Told in dual timelines and with multiple code names, the narrative was slightly disorienting, especially as they converged closer together. I felt it broke the story’s momentum and added unnecessary confusion. However, Lawhon captured Nancy’s voice with incredible spirit - sharp-tongued, daring, and full of conviction. It was not hard not to fall in show more love with her bravery, her humour, and her unwavering resolve in the face of unthinkable danger.

One of the things I liked about this book was how it balanced Nancy's personal life with her extraordinary wartime exploits. The love story between Nancy and Henri was touching and added emotional depth without overshadowing the high-stakes espionage. I especially appreciated Henri’s unwavering respect for Nancy. He never tried to contain her spirit or force her into the mould of what society expected from a wife at the time. Lawhon did not shy away from the brutal realities of war, but she never let the story lose its heart.

This novel was an enjoyable tale of resistance and resilience. Nancy Wake is a legend, and overall, Code Name Hélène did her justice. show less

She's known by many names: Nancy Wake, Helene, Madame Andree, and - to the Germans who want to catch her - the White Mouse. But Nancy Wake is a bold, brash woman who does not suffer fools, and when the Germans invade France, she begins working against them. This is her story, going back and forth between a particular mission in 1944 and flashing back through the eight years leading up to that mission.

I really enjoyed the stylistic complexity of going back and forth in time, a narrative device that was used to good effect to keep tensions high and to make the reader realize the significance of a name or an interaction in a different way than a straightforward, chronological narrative would have done. Nancy is a fascinating woman, and show more having her as the first-person narrator put you right there with her in the city Marseilles and on the ground with the Maquis, French Resistance fighters in World War 2. The author's note does explain a few instances where the author changed details, but by and large this seems to hew closely to the historical record, and certainly left me wanting to learn more about its heroine. show less

This was one of many WWII books that I’ve read recently and this was by far the best. I loved this real-life story about Nancy Wake, an Australian girl who is working as a freelance reporter in Paris in the late 30’s. She meets Henri Fiocca and she begins a fairy tale life with this French industrialist, but it’s brought to a quick end with the beginning of WWII. Nancy isn’t your ordinary socialite. She’s brave, impulsive and determined to do her part to get the Germans out of France. Ms. Lawson has done a great deal of research for this book, and her true happenings and real-life characters are mixed together to make one cracker of a story. The book is exciting from beginning to end and I couldn’t put it down. Nancy Wake, show more the real person, was a real force and she never gave up an inch while pursuing her goal to hit the Germans hard. This book goes onto to my special favourites list. And thanks to my secret Santa for choosing it for me. show less

I avoided this one for a while because of WWII book fatigue. I shouldn't have. It was an incredible book. It's based on the true story of Nancy Wake, the most decorated woman in WWII. She was a journalist and a spy whose bravery and fearlessness saved so many lives. The author captures her brash and feminine spirit. The "White Mouse" was hunted by the Gestapo for years, but she was never caught. The novel travels back and forth in time and focuses on both her adventures, but also Henri Fiocca, the love of her life. There are scenes that will stay with me forever: the exhaustion as she rides a bike for hours, the tension as she attempts to bribe a prison guard, so many powerful scenes.

“The thing about lipstick, the reason it's so show more 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.”

"Mine is a level of fury that requires two coats of lipstick and a fully loaded revolver." show less

I downloaded the audio version of Code Name Helene by Ariel Lawhon after finding out it was included in my Audible subscription. What did I have to lose — it was free after all. What I won was an excellent reading experience featuring a courageous woman who really existed. This book sucked me in from the get go as it detailed the exploits of Nancy Wake, a tough and determined woman who was invaluable to the French Resistance during WWII. This was a story that needed to be told! Nancy’s story — from international journalist prior to WWII through her work as a super-spy — is told in two storylines. I loved how Lawhon revealed key parts of the story in this way. It also helped to soften the hard experiences that are laid out. The show more historical details are well-researched and had me googling for more. Nancy’s character, as well as others, are well-drawn and made me feel like I really knew them. This book is a must-read for WWII fiction fans, but please be aware that it is filled with adult elements — language and situations. If it was a movie it would get an R rating, especially for violent images and language. If this doesn’t bother you, then I highly recommend it. A few of my friends gathered to discuss this book, and they all loved it too. The narration for the audiobook is excellent as well. The handling of the many accents was an achievement in its own right.

Highly Recommended. (caveats — adult language and situations, violence)

Audience: adults.

(I downloaded the audiobook from Audible. All opinions expressed are mine alone.) show less

Why isn't there a movie about Nancy Wake? Maybe there is & I've missed it, because it's hard to believe no one has read about this fascinating woman and not created an action-packed film about her exploits in the French Resistance. The fictionalized woman presented in this novel is vivid, with her red lipstick, clever quips, and ruthless approach to the men she led and the Nazis she fought against. I would have wished for a happier personal ending for her and her husband, but I also appreciate the novelist sticking to the facts. I loved this book and I hope to see more - fiction and nonfiction - written about Nancy Wake.

Code Name Hélène by Ariel Lawhon is an exciting and absorbing novel of historical fiction based on the extraordinary wartime experiences of Nancy Wake.

The story unfolds from Nancy’s first person perspective over two timelines. The first, beginning in 1936, focuses on her life in Paris as a journalist, as a newlywed, and as a people and document smuggler known as Lucienne Carlier, which earns her the moniker of ‘The White Mouse’ with a bounty of five million francs in her head. The second timeline reveals her incredible role with the Maquis in southern France as a British Special Operations Executive where she is known as Madam André, code name Hélène, and leads a Resistance force of thousands during the last months of World show more War II.

Lawhon takes only minor liberties with the facts to tell Nancy’s amazing story whose courageous actions earned her a dozen wartime medals from four countries. Nancy, who died in 2011 aged 98, was an intelligent, attractive, and feisty woman who wore Victory Red lipstick as armour and a cyanide pill on her cuff. She could drink like a fish, and swear like a sailor, or sip cocktails and make polite conversation in a spine revealing cocktail dress. She was a friend, a smuggler, a wife, a spy, a fighter, a leader, she was, and remains, a hero.

All but one of the major characters in Code Name Hélène were real people, from Nancy’s contacts in the Resistance, to her beloved husband. She married wealthy industrialist Henri Fiocca just before Germany invaded France but they were soon separated when he was sent to the border to fight and again, when shortly after his return, Nancy’s actions attracted the attention of the Gestapo and she was forced to flee Paris. Their relationship is a significant and moving element of the novel.

I was completely caught up in Code Name Hélène from its first pages. I thought it very well paced as it moved between timelines, both of which built a sense of anticipatory tension, though there is more outright action during Nancy’s tenure with the Maquis.

Code Name Hélène is not just a story of adventure and romance, but also one of friendship, courage, tragedy, and hope. Until now I’ve known nothing of Nancy Wake, but I have every intention of tracking down a copy of her autobiography to learn more. Nancy Wake was an extraordinary woman, and Lawhon has written an extraordinary story which honours her. show less