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Nancy Wake: World War Two's Most Rebellious Spy Kindle Edition
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‘Of all the variously talented women SOE sent to France, Nancy Wake was perhaps the most formidable’ —Sebastian Faulks
This is the incredible true story of the greatest spy you’ve never heard of—as told to the author by the woman herself.
At the outbreak of World War Two, Nancy Wake’s glamorous life in the South of France seemed far removed from the fighting. But when her husband was called up for military service, Nancy felt she had just as much of a duty to fight for freedom. By 1943, her fearless undercover work even in the face of personal tragedy had earned her a place on the Gestapo’s ‘most wanted’ list.
Mixing armed combat with a taste for high living, Nancy frustrated the Nazis at every turn’whether she was smuggling food and messages as part of the underground Resistance or being parachuted into the heart of the war to lead a 7,000-strong band of Resistance fighters.
The extraordinary courage of this unequalled woman changed the course of the war, and Russell Braddon’s vividly realised biography brings her incredible story to life.
Revised edition: This edition of Nancy Wake includes editorial revisions.
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherLittle A
- Publication dateNovember 1, 2019
- File size4724 KB
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Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Russell Braddon was born in Sydney in 1921. In addition to The Naked Island, his bestselling memoir of four years spent as a prisoner of war during the Second World War, he also wrote a number of biographies, novels, histories and TV scripts. He lived in Britain from 1949 until 1993, and died in New South Wales in 1995.
Product details
- ASIN : B07XQZRWXT
- Publisher : Little A (November 1, 2019)
- Publication date : November 1, 2019
- Language : English
- File size : 4724 KB
- Text-to-Speech : Enabled
- Screen Reader : Supported
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Enabled
- Word Wise : Enabled
- Print length : 281 pages
- Best Sellers Rank: #89,973 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #25 in Historical France Biographies
- #138 in Military & Spies Biographies
- #147 in History eBooks of Women
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
Russell Braddon was born in Sydney in 1921. In addition to The Naked Island, his bestselling memoir of four years spent as a prisoner of war during the Second World War, he also wrote a number of biographies, novels, histories and TV scripts. He lived in Britain from 1949 until 1993, and died in New South Wales in 1995.
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonTop reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on January 1, 2025One tough lady. She had brains and courage of the highest caliber but also had deep compassion for others, friend or foe in some cases.
- Reviewed in the United States on March 17, 2020As a history buff I selected this book and was not disappointed. I found the life of Nancy Wake to go far beyond the efforts of many military men. She, at an age of about 27, showed leadership and fortitude beyond that of others with more years of experience. Nancy fought with the French Resistance leading over 5000 men in movements to destroy factories which aided the German invasion and also to disrupt the lines of transportation (bridges, roads) used by the Germans. It was under her direction that supplies were ordered, dropped by military planes and disbursed to those fighting. Her bravery was marked by the fact that she did not seem to request those under her command to engage in something she would not do herself. Throughout her years of service Nancy was dedicated to the Resistance despite the great cost to her personal life and the hardships endured.
I enjoyed the read and becoming aware of the efforts of this brave woman.
- Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2013Before I offer my assessment of this amazing book, I would make one comment that does not in any way reflect upon Nancy Wake. The front cover proclaims Nancy as "SOE's Greatest Heroine." I would take issue with that statement. I am not sure that people of such character and stature should be graded as if competitors. They all performed their duties in a manner and with a passion that set them apart, many of them gave their lives. Nancy lived through amazing events in which she was fully engaged at a personal level, but I don't think that Nancy herself would suggest that she merits a higher level of admiration and respect than her 153 colleagues in SOE who fought and died. My above comment goes to the publisher, who in my opinion put dollar signs before human courage and sacrifice. Nancy's book doesn't need to be made to sound dramatic, it is drama from beginning to end.
If this book were fiction, it would be a #1 Best Seller. That it is fact make it (almost) unbelievable. Russell Braddon knows about war from personal experience. He is also a writer, not just someone who writes. We must credit him with writing an amazing story about an amazing lady. A lady who was ready to commit her life in defence of her adopted country at any cost and in any circumstances. Her survival throughout an incredible period of action after D-Day puts the exploits of "007" to shame. Nancy Wake was accepted as a leader by a large group of tough French Resistance men who recognised in her a brand of courage and determination that is not given to many. Australian by birth, she adopted France as her country because she married a Frenchman and she loved France.
If you are an avid reader of the exploits of the SOE, you cannot pass this book by.
If you are inspired by reading true adventures that demand extraordinary courage, loyalty and personal sacrifice, you will find more than enough inspiration within the pages of this account of the exploits of Nancy Wake.
We have degraded the status of "Hero" or "Heroine" by awarding it to everyone from sports stars to the neighbour who brings your kitten down out of a tree.
Nancy Wake qualified in the original true sense of the word as a "Heroine".
A lady of indomitable courage, bravery, determination and integrity.
If you cannot find excitement and admiration in your heart as you read these chapters, I would recommend that you proceed direct to the mortuary from wherever you are and do not collect $200.00.
- Reviewed in the United States on July 30, 2024I bought this book and then left it in my library waiting or getting distracted by other books. I am sorry I didn’t read it sooner. Nancy is incredible. The events tragic and amazing. The best I’ve read about the French Resistance.
Thank you to all who fight the wars for our freedoms.
- Reviewed in the United States on May 26, 2021I read this after having read Kristin Hannah’s novel The Nightingale. There were questions as to how could all of this happen to one person. Since Nancy Wake was one hero the book was based on- I searched and found her.
What an incredible woman!! What an astounding hero! Quick thinking, compassionate, unfazed by dangers, authoritative- definitely that, loving wife, resourceful… Why have we not had more GOOD movies centered on the people of the resistance? (And I watched the movie/documentary on Nancy Wake…it got better, but it was never great. Won’t someone fix this?!)
Now for the actual book, and writing style. Russell Braden gathered so much information through multiple interviews that he was able to put together a very detailed sequence of events. Some of the details were a bit over the top and probably unnecessary, but it left me with such an in-depth picture of what it was like to be in the French countryside during WWII. I feel that I traveled alongside Nancy and those with her. It is told with warmth and respect. He provides an inside view of daily life with the men who worked tirelessly to overcome a formidable enemy without delving into a lot of gory details.
I did like that this was available as an audio book as well, so the last half-third I relied heavily on the well done narration.
I do recommend this to anyone interested in women in war but not just, as this is not a book for or about women. It’s about the Resistance, the Maquis. It is a tribute to a woman and her remarkable abilities, and the hundreds with whom she served.
Really, who would believe this was real except that it be told by those who lived it.
Top reviews from other countries
- Helen CordyReviewed in Canada on January 18, 2022
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Xmas present
Christmas Present loved it
- S WoodReviewed in the United Kingdom on October 26, 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing true story
Incredible and at times unbelievable story of a wonderful and eccentric woman who did so much for so many during the second world war. A book that will always stay in my memory.
- Avid ReaderReviewed in Australia on December 21, 2023
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing woman, excellent read, great audio
Nancy Wake was an amazing woman. This is a fantastic story about her and the audio narration was excellent. I’d recommend this book to everyone.
- Kindle CustomerReviewed in Australia on November 13, 2024
4.0 out of 5 stars Amazing true story of Nancy Wake
I was so impressed by the life of spy Nancy Wake. There was rich detail of her antics. It is wonderful learning about an Australian war hero.
- TGReviewed in Canada on December 12, 2013
5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible
This is one of those rare stories that you come across which amazes you from start to finish. The feats that this woman accomplished are enormous. She was a indomitable woman and what she did deserve much praise. This book will keep the reader engrossed from start to finish. Buy this and you will not be disappointed...