Code Name Hélène

A Novel

By: Ariel Lawhon

Narrated by: Barrie Kreinik, Peter Ganim

Length: 17 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's Summary

"This fully animated portrait of Nancy Wake...will fascinate readers of World War II history and thrill fans of fierce, brash, independent women, alike." (Lisa Wingate, number one New York Times best-selling author of Before We Were Yours)

Based on the thrilling real-life story of socialite spy Nancy Wake, comes the newest feat of historical fiction from the New York Times best-selling author of I Was Anastasia, featuring the astonishing woman who killed a Nazi with her bare hands and went on to become one of the most decorated women in WWII.

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 Andrée, where she claims her place as one of the most powerful leaders in the French Resistance, armed with her 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.

©2020 Ariel Lawhon (P)2020 Random House Audio

Critic Reviews

"A compulsively readable account of a little-known yet extraordinary historical figure - Lawhon's best book to date." (Kirkus Reviews, starred review)

“Magnificent. . . Lawhon carries us into the heart of the French resistance [and] into the mind of a badass heroine with uncanny instincts who takes on the Nazis and men’s arrogant sexism with uncommon bravado. . . Even long after the last page is turned, this astonishing story of Wake’s accomplishments will hold readers in its grip.” (Booklist, starred)

“A spellbinding work of historical fiction. . . [and] one of the most sensual romance novels you’ve ever read. . . She is real, this really did happen is the mantra you may find yourself repeating, in awe of every page.” (Bookpage, starred)

Mixed Feelings

Historical novels are my favorite genre so this one seemed like a slam dunk. The story, while sensationalized, was a good one and like most historical novels, it sent me to the Internet to learn more. A big problem I had was trying to figure out who was who. There were so many code names and not a whole lot of background to flesh out many of the characters so I sort of lost track and just kept reading. If I really understood who was doing what and their relationship to Nancy, I would have appreciated the book far more.

An even bigger problem for me was what one astute reviewer referred to as a "story-in-a-blender" style of writing. This is a popular gimmick in contemporary writing that I loathe. For me, it defeats the purpose of good storytelling. *Code Name Helene* time jumps so much I could barely keep track of the story line. There aren't chapters so much as 34 "episodes", each with a different date. Here's the progression:1944, 1936, 1944, 1936, 1944, 1936, 1944, 1937, 1944, 1939, 1944, 1939, 1944, 1940, 1944, 1940 1944, 1942, 1944, 1942, 1944, 1943, 1944, 1943, 1944, 1943, 1944, 1943, 1944, 1943, 1945, 1944 - or something like that. It would be difficult enough to keep track of this in a hardcover book where you can flip back and forth to jot down notes. With the audio version, it was impossible for me to keep track of these dates as the story unfolded. Only on reflection, do I see that the story alternated between two time periods, something I didn't pick up on while trying to focus on what was happening. I just found it choppy, confusing and difficult to follow.

In the end, I think planning to read the book twice would provide the most enjoyment. The story of this remarkable woman is definitely a good one and if you can get past the multiple code names and time jumps, I believe the author does justice to bringing Nancy Wake's incredible wartime exploits to life.

Such a great book

I rarely give 5 stars, reserving that award for truly great books. I loved this book. I only wish I had known it was a true story before I read it. I'd like to read it again wit that revelation. If you liked The Nightingale or Under the Scarlet Skies, you'll love this book.

Well written, beautifully narrated - best of genre

Great story of a great woman, fictionalized to grab the reader's interest, and it surely does. I love to listen to historical fiction of the era, and this is as good an example as any.

Some seem to think that the magnitude of WWII alone is enough vehicle to carry a story, but this author does her job, delivering depth of character and interaction with events as a backdrop; like a good story should.

Excellent historical novel - I could not put it down!

I loved this book. I cannot believe I had never heard of Nancy Wake before listening to this book. It has all of my favorite characteristics, historical, taking place over different time periods, intrigue, suspense, romance, courage, and excellent character and plot development. I will definitely look for more books by this author. I have no hesitation to recommend this book.

Excellent Narration

Cheers for the narrators. But... if a story is worth telling, why hack the story timeline into pieces, shuffle it, and annoy the listener with the task of reassembling it? In my opinion, it did not add noteworthy drama to the work.

Historical Fiction at its Best!

Loved this story, characters and narration! Learning of Nancy Wake and her adventures during WWII, was the real treat of this book! What a woman - and what a story the author told of this remarkable woman, and her feats, during that historic time! The story was captivating and riveting! This book gave a real sense of the place and time about which it was told! I finished it a couple of days ago, and am still thinking & mulling over the characters! A remarkable and true story, with just enough fiction to make it a GREAT LISTEN!

Loved this book. Great portrait of a real heroine!

Nancy Wake is one of the great women of modern history and deserves many books and movies! As a proud antipodean, I have always loved her story and Ariel Lawhon's faithful retelling (yes a few literary adjustments and added dialogue make this a novel not a biography) is exceptional. My only issue with this audio book is I would have loved Henri to have been narrated in a French accent if not by a French actor. Ganim does a passable French accent (his Australian is not very good sadly) , but when the story is being told from Henri's POV, it should have been 100% French accented English, not dipping in and out of American and French. Small thing, yet it took a little away from the performance. Still, l love this book and the audible recording.

If you like historical fiction

This book was amazing! The fact that this was a real woman made it even better.

Brilliant Novel about the incomparable Nancy Wake

An absolute extraordinary novel based on the real WW2 Heroin. Whilst history is being erased and all but forgotten; this retelling of a poinent part of World history is a treasure.

WWII

This is perhaps the best book I have ever read!
What a shame that women were not honored for their service as were men!