Code Name Hélène by Ariel Lawhon is a story of dichotomies as it is both an incredibly motivating and uplifting story but also incredibly sad and heartbreaking. Based loosely on true events it tells the story of Nancy Wake, a reporter turned smuggler and spy who was on the ground in France during WWII. Told through dual timelines we see how she landed in France in early 1944 and helped arm and direct the resistance already active. In the lead up to the allied landing she works to prove herself in a world that is heavily dominated by men even as she struggles to find a way to accomplish her real reasons for coming back to France, finding her husband Henri. At the same time we also see how she first experienced the horrors of the Nazis as early as 1936 and her determination to do whatever she could to help those escaping even as she slowly found herself falling in love and starting a relationship with Frenchman Henri Fiocca. Between the two timelines we see exactly how Nancy Wake became the woman who would insist on getting airdropped into France in order to help the resistance and the allies stop the Nazis.
I am going to start this with saying that despite my familiarity with WWII I have honestly never heard of Nancy Wake though I am familiar with several of her peers. That being said, I was rather blown away by the extent of her efforts leading up to and during the war as she seems to have been involved with almost everything, to some extent. As a person she definitely gets my respect for what she did. The book, though fictionalized slightly, did a pretty good job portraying how these events might have played out. What I found interesting is that the book actually focused a lot on her relationship with Henri and how the love between them was a driving force for Nancy. While I find that an interesting choice for what is essentially a book about war I thought it also added a needed human element to a story that could otherwise be way too dark. The balance between the two elements of the story was just right to keep the reader drawn in and interested. It was extremely well done and I was impressed. I was mildly upset to realize certain elements of the story had been altered from the actual events, predominantly dates, but I can also acknowledge that this is a fictionalized version and doing so helps to enhance the emotions that drive the characters, specifically Nancy, throughout the story. Despite the events and time period being portrayed this book ultimately ended up not being overly dark due to the romance and even at times humor. I greatly enjoyed reading this and am happy to give it 4.5 out of 5 stars.
This book was an incredible piece of historical fiction and loosely based off of a true person so if that holds some appeal consider trying it. Keep in mind this book is based in France during WWII so it will contain some pretty dark content and disturbing references at times. Nancy Wake also tended to have some pretty colorful language which is also reflected in the book. I would suggest that only readers who are of age or at the least older than about sixteen should be okay with it but still think carefully before trying it. If you decide to try it feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.