Nancy Wake

By: Peter FitzSimons

Narrated by: Stephanie Daniel

Length: 11 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's summary

In the early 1930s, Nancy Wake was a young woman enjoying a bohemian life in Paris. By the end of the Second World War, she was the Gestapo's most wanted person. As a naive, young journalist, Nancy Wake witnessed a horrific scene of Nazi violence in a Viennese street. From that moment, she declared that she would do everything in her power to rid Europe of the Nazis.

What began as a courier job here and there became a highly successful escape network for Allied soldiers, perfectly camouflaged by Nancy's high-society life in Marseille. Her network was soon so successful – and so notorious – that she was forced to flee France to escape the Gestapo, who had dubbed her 'the white mouse' for her knack of slipping through its traps. But Nancy was a passionate enemy of the Nazis and refused to stay away.

Supplying weapons and training members of a powerful underground fighting force, organising Allied parachute drops, cycling four hundred kilometres across a mountain range to find a new transmitting radio – nothing seemed too difficult in her fight against the Nazis. Peter FitzSimons reveals Nancy Wake's compelling story, a tale of an ordinary woman doing extraordinary things.

©2002 Peter Fitzsimons (P)2010 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd

Great book

A very well written book about a great lady. A true must read. This book should be required reading for all who still believe in the weaker sex. I would sure want her on my side.

Amazing

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Absolutley because it is an amazing story about an amazing human being.

What did you like best about this story?

Just the strength and bravery that Nancy displayed.

What an incredible woman!

Whew! So glad this book was written - great insight into the French resistance & the part the British played in the downfall of the Nazis.

Inspiring story

If you could sum up Nancy Wake in three words, what would they be?

Inspiring, funny, sad.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Nancy Wake?

Telling the Australians to keep their medals. (She uses more colorful language.)

Have you listened to any of Stephanie Daniel’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Nancy learns that her husband has died in a concentration camp and that he had refused to give her up.

Any additional comments?

A memorable book.

Very interesting, entertaining and educational

I truly enjoyed listening to this biography of a most extraordinary woman/person. It was a great listen about the life and heroism of a woman who often seemed to "stumble" onto the amazing and fascinating path her life followed. She was a woman of great tenacity, perseverance, and courage as well as flair and wit. The book spans her entire life but is primarily focused on the period prior to and during WWII. I am glad the book covered her early and later life as well. I highly recommend this book and would enjoy reading more books about similarly extraordinary real women during WWII and otherwise.

Amazing Heroic Woman

Can't believe I'd never heard of Nancy Wake before. She was an incredible woman and war hero. So glad I stumbled on to this book.

Loved this book

This book was great. I was sorry when it was over. I generally read non-fiction and love to learn about previously unknown (to me) women from the past. This book moved swiftly and brought to life a part of the WWII resistance in France. A woman in a man's world who was greatly respected by them.

Ever heard of Nancy Wake?

Ever heard of Nancy Wake? Well, you probably should have. She was an incredible WWII heroine. What guts this woman had. She was a native Australian who became an undercover agent and explosives expert. She did not seem to flinch at facing the most terrifying of circumstances in order to do what needed to be done. She was responsible for helping countless people get out of France before they could be taken by the Germans. She herself was caught at one point, but she never gave up, and after regaining her freedom, went right back to putting it to the Germans.

I was amazed at the courage and determination of this woman, and wonder why I had never heard of her before.

Amazing woman

This is a remarkable story of courage and grit in WW2. Nancy Wake is, or was, a real war hero. The audiobook is fair...maybe 20% too long, but that is a problem with the book. Not especially well written. The narration was about average. It was another time--an individual like this could really make a difference. Yes, these people really did exist.

Great listen

Enjoyed this portrayal of the human potential under extreme circumstances contrasted with the adjustment to normal life. Great listen.