Madame Fourcade's Secret War
The Daring Young Woman Who Led France's Largest Spy Network Against Hitler
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Madame Fourcade's Secret War
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Narrated by:
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Kimberly Farr
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By:
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Lynne Olson
About this listen
New York Times best seller
The little-known true story of Marie-Madeleine Fourcade, the woman who headed the largest spy network in occupied France during World War II, from the best-selling author of Citizens of London and Last Hope Island
"Brava to Lynne Olson for a biography that should challenge any outdated assumptions about who deserves to be called a hero." (The Washington Post)
Named one of the Best Books of the Year by NPR and The Washington Post
In 1941 a 31-year-old Frenchwoman, a young mother born to privilege and known for her beauty and glamour, became the leader of a vast intelligence organization - the only woman to serve as a chef de résistance during the war. Strong-willed, independent, and a lifelong rebel against her country’s conservative, patriarchal society, Marie-Madeleine Fourcade was temperamentally made for the job. Her group’s name was Alliance, but the Gestapo dubbed it Noah’s Ark because its agents used the names of animals as their aliases. The name Marie-Madeleine chose for herself was Hedgehog: a tough little animal, unthreatening in appearance, that, as a colleague of hers put it, "even a lion would hesitate to bite."
No other French spy network lasted as long or supplied as much crucial intelligence - including providing American and British military commanders with a 55-foot-long map of the beaches and roads on which the Allies would land on D-Day - as Alliance. The Gestapo pursued them relentlessly, capturing, torturing, and executing hundreds of its 3,000 agents, including Fourcade’s own lover and many of her key spies. Although Fourcade, the mother of two young children, moved her headquarters every few weeks, constantly changing her hair color, clothing, and identity, she was captured twice by the Nazis. Both times she managed to escape - once by slipping naked through the bars of her jail cell - and continued to hold her network together even as it repeatedly threatened to crumble around her.
Now, in this dramatic account of the war that split France in two and forced its people to live side by side with their hated German occupiers, Lynne Olson tells the fascinating story of a woman who stood up for her nation, her fellow citizens, and herself.
"Fast-paced and impressively researched.... Olson writes with verve and a historian’s authority.... With this gripping tale, Lynne Olson pays [Marie-Madeleine Fourcade] what history has so far denied her. France, slow to confront the stain of Vichy, would do well to finally honor a fighter most of us would want in our foxhole." (The New York Times Book Review)
©2019 Lynne Olson (P)2019 Random House AudioListeners also enjoyed...
Critic reviews
"In Madame Fourcade’s Secret War, Lynne Olson tells one of the great stories of the French Resistance, a story of one woman’s courage amid great danger, a story of heroism, defiance, and, ultimately, victory." (Alan Furst, author of A Hero of France)
"Lynne Olson has added yet another brilliant chapter to her vital historical project: documenting the extraordinary efforts of individuals, such as spymaster Marie-Madeleine Fourcade, who helped liberate twentieth-century Europe from Nazi occupation. Much like Madame Fourcade herself, Olson goes to great lengths to unearth truth and preserve dignity for those who lived and died during Hitler’s reign of terror - and for that, both the author and her daring subject deserve high praise." (Former Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright)
"The organizational genius of Fourcade shines through tales of her cat-and-mouse game with the Gestapo, including multiple daring escapes from Nazi captivity. As well researched and engrossing as her previous books, showcasing her adroit ability to weave personal narratives, political intrigue, and wartime developments to tell a riveting story, Olson's latest is highly recommended to readers interested in World War II, the history of espionage, women's history, and European history." (Library Journal starred review)
What listeners say about Madame Fourcade's Secret War
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- james stewart orr
- 26-03-19
Gripping
Even if you think you know it all about WW2, this book makes you realise how much these people sacrificed and the fear they lived with as well as how brave they all were. They end of the book is particularly poignant.
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- little old me
- 31-03-21
Wow!
What an incredible story, so well put together and I was enthralled.
I would heartedly recommend it
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Kenny Hamilton
- 25-03-20
heroism beyond doubt
WW2 heroism and bravery. Totally dedicated to her and her fellow agent's cause. fantastic reading of a story rarely told.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- ECK19
- 22-02-21
A memorable and moving story of a true heroine of the French Resistance that should be better known
A detailed and very well researched account of the exploits of a resistance network, its leader and its people, that deserves more attention. Memorable, moving and captivating in equal measure, it is a wonderful tale of bravery and daring exploits in the face of extreme adversity. Lynne Olson’s story should be read by anyone who has an interest in the subject and the sacrifice of those involved should be cherished by everyone who now enjoys the freedom they fought for and won.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Agnes
- 01-09-21
A Remarkable Story
A thoroughly interesting biography of a very brave woman. It’s well narrated and if you’re at all interesting in learning more about world war 2, the french resistance, or remarkable women in history then I’d recommend this book to you. The bravery of Marie-Madeline and her agents is astounding, while other events are truly heartbreaking. 5/5
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Amazon Customer
- 03-08-21
Great book.
easy to listen to. goes a lot into back ground details, but that is very interesting if you have read a lot about 2nd world war.
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