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

Nancy is an inspiration!

I love stories about Nancy Wake. What an amazing woman! I have a whole new understanding of World War II after hearing about it from her perspective. Great job by the narrator as well.

Brave woman!

I give this book 3.5 stars. The main jist of the story was really interesting at times. However, there were quite a lot of parts that made me want to beat my head on the wall from boredom. I like books that are based on real stories and overall I'm glad I listened to it. Nancy Wake was an incredibly brave and spitfire of a woman! She accomplished so many incredible things during the war! But, if I were reading a hard copy I don't think I would have stuck with it. Not because the plot was boring but because of how it was written.

Quite a woman!

Nancy was a spy during WWII. She had never imagined she would do such a thing. But she was in the right places at the right times to be recruited for this job. She had a distinctive flare and was quite good at misleading the enemy. This book presents Nancy as almost an urchin growing up in Australia, but with great intelligence and drive. She was glad to give up her childhood and eagerly embraced the glamorous prewar life in Europe. With her looks and love of fashion, she was attractive and met many notable people. In her role as spy, she accomplished a great deal for the Allies and for the role of women in the military.

What A Life.

Would you listen to Nancy Wake again? Why?

Nancy Wake was an amazing woman - a spy in WWII. There was so much detail in this book - historically, emotionally. I really felt there with her - such a strong and very brave woman - a inspiration to us all. Makes you feel grateful for the life you do have.

Wonderful Book

What a woman! During WW2 with leading two hundred plus men on mission to blow up bridges and Nazi’s! Had her mens respect and loyalty. Broke out men that were captured by Nazi!
A little slow in the beginning but need told for the story. Nancy had beautiful and got her Missions done. She was very good at blowing things up!!! The “White Mouse” they never caught!!

Nancy Wake (an Australian Hero)

Nancy Wakes story is truly remarkable, she was engaged as a spy behind enemy lines and served with courage and pride, I urge every person who is interested in WWII and SOE to read this book, it is superbly written, wittty enough to show her true personality and serious but easily read to understand the terrible risks she undertook. She was also one on the only persons not to receive a medal after the war because of her colonial background. You must read this it is riveting.

Hard to finish, but Nancy is worth getting to know

Haven't been able to finish this one as it seems to repeat itself a great deal. Really enjoyed learning about Nancy Wake and her adventures; will seek out other media about her. If you can find this book for free, in a library or from a friend, then check it out. It may be better in hard copy because you can flip past the repetitive and boring parts. I got about halfway through the audiobook so I suppose it's worth the credit, but I'm hoping there are better books and movies out there about Nancy Wake. Actually, I think she should be the subject of the next big superhero movie!

Loved it

Thoroughly enjoyed this historical story about Nancy Wake. What an amazing woman. So sad that after all her bravery that she lost the one she so loved though. Highly recommended

Where has this woman been all my life?

I have always had a big interest in WWII, but happened to read about Nancy Wake while browsing for history books. What? Who? Huh? This incredible Australian's life reads like fiction, but it's absolutely true. Why did I not learn about her in school?

Nancy may have been able to get down and dirty with the best of them, but what really makes this story unbelievable is that she was a beautiful woman who could play any part necessary to get what she wanted. And what she wanted was justice for the jews and the WWII Allies. Incredible. The author does a great job of telling Nancy's story, including her formative childhood years - always a rebel. The Australian accent sounds spot on to my American ears, but you may want to take that with a grain of salt.

As they said about Margaret Thatcher, she was many times the only man in the room. For why I did not learn about her in school 40 years ago, that's still a mystery, but her story needs to be told. Highly recommended.

So glad I read this one!

Peter Fitzsimmons has written this remarkable story with a great understanding of Nancy as a forthright gusty Australian woman of her time. She also had a great appreciation of French and British culture. Most unusual for her day as an Australian, she was so obviously bilingual speaking French fluently. Stephanie Daniel reads this story beautifully.
It is not surprising that Nancy was well recognised by the French, Americans and British for her courage and valuable service in WW2 with the Resistance in France under extremely dangerous circumstances.
As an Australian whose father fought in WW2 and mother did a "man's" job of management during the War, I found this story fascinating and inspiring. I had not been aware of what Nancy actually did until I came across this book. It is so well written, just a joy to hear.
Highly recommended, most worthwhile.