Readers' Comments:
"I very much enjoyed reading Andrée’s War. It’s a gripping story and I can see it making a very good film. It is with engagingly written books like this that we find the human stories, small encounters and deep nuances that jolt us into the three-dimensional historical past of a Big history that seems still very near.”
Peter Warwick, Author of Voices from the Battle of Trafalgar and Chairman of The 1805 Club
-----------------------------------------
Your mother led a long and fulfilled life during the course of which she contributed greatly to the cause of liberty for us all. It was one of the great honors of my life to have met her and talked with her about her wartime experiences about which she was characteristically modest (“I just rode my bicycle across the border”). We are losing a truly great generation, and you did us all a favor by writing a book to remind us of their exploits.
Michael Davidson, former CIA Agent
----------------------------------------------
"Thank you for the wonderful book. I feel quite bereft when I finished it. What an amazing woman, so incredibly brave "
Mary Stewart, Spirit of Normandy Trust
---------------------------------------------
I’ve just finished “Andree’s war” and very much wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed it. Many congratulations on documenting a story that provides insight into a time and place relatively unknown to an English audience.(My own parents, who were precise contemporaries of yours rarely spoke of the war (of course I regret not seeking more information from them.) Your book is both a tribute to a remarkable woman (and her brother!), and provides a telling commentary on the social mores of the time. It will be hard for future generations to understand that women did not naturally compete with men, and that courage comes in many forms. (Your grandmother was clearly also remarkable.)
Linda Lloyd Jones, Special Advisor, Programme, The Victoria and Albert Museum
----------------------------------------------
"I have just finished Andree's War. What a courageous woman your mother was. I wish that we had stayed at Latymer Court longer so that I could have known her better.
The book was fascinating and you told her story so well., weaving together her story and that of the Resistance more broadly. I got a feel for life in occupied France. I was interested that Andree’s war time life (from her diary) involved glimpses of normality (buying hats, going out occasionally to dinner...) but overlaid with the horror and deprivations of occupation by an invading army. And your mother’s steely determination to oppose the occupying power as best she could. "
Mark
---------------------------------------------
"The Book was fascinating and you told Andree's story so well, weaving together her story and that of the Resistance more broadly. I got a feel for life in occupied France with the horror and depreciations of occupation by an invading army."
Maana
---------------------------------------------
Congratulation! This book is the best medal your mother could receive and it is so deserved … I couldn’t put it down for a moment.
Your mother was the perfect example of those women who did not ask themselves any questions they just knew what had to be done.
The presence of the German in France and the defeat of their country was something they could not and would not accept and they resisted like little soldiers.
Once the war was over they knew they had done their duty and they did not think about receiving any official recognition or any medals.
Thanks to this book, I have discovered a whole aspect of the Orion Group’s activities of which I was unaware.
Jean Pierre Jobelot, Grandson of Henri d'Astier de la Vigerie, one of the leading members of the French Resistance movement in North Africa.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I have just finished reading the wonderful book on Andrées wartime experiences. It is a quite extraordinary story, I cannot imagine how she came through it so balance and, indeed, how she came through it at all given the dangers she faced every day.
The author has done a great job in making the story so readable and yet not sentimental.
The Lord Carrington of Fulham.
-------------------------------------
Andrées War is fascinating and very moving - what an amazing woman your mother was.
Desmond Shawe-Taylor, Surveyor of the Queen's Pictures.
------------------------------------------------------------------
"You have brought me to tears! I should explain that before I skimmed your book and now have read it properly. I found it inspiring, fascinating and deeply moving."
Andrew
------------------------------------------------------------------
"What a lovely presentation of the story about your mother. A truly exceptional and brave girl/lady."
Christopher, Sheen Botanical Labels Limited.
(By Appointment to HM The Queen - Manufacturer of Horticultural Labels.)
------------------------------------------------------------------
"I have to tell you I'm halfway through your fantastic book. Your evening talking about your mother was a highlight for me."
Philip
------------------------------------------------------------------
..... I forgot to mention in my recent note just how much I enjoyed reading Andree's War. It was a captivating story that your friend told the reader as if she had engaged a few close friends in a good dinner party chat! Such a brave girl--that Andree and such an incredible legacy for young women today--affirmation we do manage to do our civic bit in the shadows of "great men!".
Patrice
--------
"I found Francelle's talk about her mother's experiences in the Resistance very moving, she was so courageous and resourceful. 'Andree's War' is certainly a page-turner. I do hope its sales will help to raise money towards finding a cure for that soul-destroying disease - Alzheimers. I wonder how I - or any of us - would have reacted and responded if our country had been overrun with enemy forces.'
Angie
--------
I just wanted to say how very much I enjoyed Andrees war-I read it from cover to cover and found I couldn't put it down! What a terrific story and what a wonderful family- you must be so proud.
Anne H
---------
I enjoyed your book immensely and there is no doubt that it was thoroughly researched and very well written up: it must have felt a bit like doing a Phd.. You have given your children and nieces and nephews a wonderful memoir of their Grandmother as well as a fascinating insight for all your friends – and countless other people – into your mother’s life and war work.
Liz
-------
...... All those who have read the book will now have a sense of what it was like to live through those years when life changed dramatically. M & P
--------------------------------
...... A remarkable lady and such a good story. Thank goodness she kept diaries ... Liz
----------------
I was very pleased to have this book brought to my attention. Apart from being an exciting read, it is very educational about French wartime life: I learnt many facts which had totally escaped me. It was also extraordinarily moving: one is in awe of the courage, moral conviction and stamina of Andrée - and her entire family - whilst living in occupied France.
Sally Bishop, Web Designer
Peter Warwick, Author of Voices from the Battle of Trafalgar and Chairman of The 1805 Club
-----------------------------------------
Your mother led a long and fulfilled life during the course of which she contributed greatly to the cause of liberty for us all. It was one of the great honors of my life to have met her and talked with her about her wartime experiences about which she was characteristically modest (“I just rode my bicycle across the border”). We are losing a truly great generation, and you did us all a favor by writing a book to remind us of their exploits.
Michael Davidson, former CIA Agent
----------------------------------------------
"Thank you for the wonderful book. I feel quite bereft when I finished it. What an amazing woman, so incredibly brave "
Mary Stewart, Spirit of Normandy Trust
---------------------------------------------
I’ve just finished “Andree’s war” and very much wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed it. Many congratulations on documenting a story that provides insight into a time and place relatively unknown to an English audience.(My own parents, who were precise contemporaries of yours rarely spoke of the war (of course I regret not seeking more information from them.) Your book is both a tribute to a remarkable woman (and her brother!), and provides a telling commentary on the social mores of the time. It will be hard for future generations to understand that women did not naturally compete with men, and that courage comes in many forms. (Your grandmother was clearly also remarkable.)
Linda Lloyd Jones, Special Advisor, Programme, The Victoria and Albert Museum
----------------------------------------------
"I have just finished Andree's War. What a courageous woman your mother was. I wish that we had stayed at Latymer Court longer so that I could have known her better.
The book was fascinating and you told her story so well., weaving together her story and that of the Resistance more broadly. I got a feel for life in occupied France. I was interested that Andree’s war time life (from her diary) involved glimpses of normality (buying hats, going out occasionally to dinner...) but overlaid with the horror and deprivations of occupation by an invading army. And your mother’s steely determination to oppose the occupying power as best she could. "
Mark
---------------------------------------------
"The Book was fascinating and you told Andree's story so well, weaving together her story and that of the Resistance more broadly. I got a feel for life in occupied France with the horror and depreciations of occupation by an invading army."
Maana
---------------------------------------------
Congratulation! This book is the best medal your mother could receive and it is so deserved … I couldn’t put it down for a moment.
Your mother was the perfect example of those women who did not ask themselves any questions they just knew what had to be done.
The presence of the German in France and the defeat of their country was something they could not and would not accept and they resisted like little soldiers.
Once the war was over they knew they had done their duty and they did not think about receiving any official recognition or any medals.
Thanks to this book, I have discovered a whole aspect of the Orion Group’s activities of which I was unaware.
Jean Pierre Jobelot, Grandson of Henri d'Astier de la Vigerie, one of the leading members of the French Resistance movement in North Africa.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I have just finished reading the wonderful book on Andrées wartime experiences. It is a quite extraordinary story, I cannot imagine how she came through it so balance and, indeed, how she came through it at all given the dangers she faced every day.
The author has done a great job in making the story so readable and yet not sentimental.
The Lord Carrington of Fulham.
-------------------------------------
Andrées War is fascinating and very moving - what an amazing woman your mother was.
Desmond Shawe-Taylor, Surveyor of the Queen's Pictures.
------------------------------------------------------------------
"You have brought me to tears! I should explain that before I skimmed your book and now have read it properly. I found it inspiring, fascinating and deeply moving."
Andrew
------------------------------------------------------------------
"What a lovely presentation of the story about your mother. A truly exceptional and brave girl/lady."
Christopher, Sheen Botanical Labels Limited.
(By Appointment to HM The Queen - Manufacturer of Horticultural Labels.)
------------------------------------------------------------------
"I have to tell you I'm halfway through your fantastic book. Your evening talking about your mother was a highlight for me."
Philip
------------------------------------------------------------------
..... I forgot to mention in my recent note just how much I enjoyed reading Andree's War. It was a captivating story that your friend told the reader as if she had engaged a few close friends in a good dinner party chat! Such a brave girl--that Andree and such an incredible legacy for young women today--affirmation we do manage to do our civic bit in the shadows of "great men!".
Patrice
--------
"I found Francelle's talk about her mother's experiences in the Resistance very moving, she was so courageous and resourceful. 'Andree's War' is certainly a page-turner. I do hope its sales will help to raise money towards finding a cure for that soul-destroying disease - Alzheimers. I wonder how I - or any of us - would have reacted and responded if our country had been overrun with enemy forces.'
Angie
--------
I just wanted to say how very much I enjoyed Andrees war-I read it from cover to cover and found I couldn't put it down! What a terrific story and what a wonderful family- you must be so proud.
Anne H
---------
I enjoyed your book immensely and there is no doubt that it was thoroughly researched and very well written up: it must have felt a bit like doing a Phd.. You have given your children and nieces and nephews a wonderful memoir of their Grandmother as well as a fascinating insight for all your friends – and countless other people – into your mother’s life and war work.
Liz
-------
...... All those who have read the book will now have a sense of what it was like to live through those years when life changed dramatically. M & P
--------------------------------
...... A remarkable lady and such a good story. Thank goodness she kept diaries ... Liz
----------------
I was very pleased to have this book brought to my attention. Apart from being an exciting read, it is very educational about French wartime life: I learnt many facts which had totally escaped me. It was also extraordinarily moving: one is in awe of the courage, moral conviction and stamina of Andrée - and her entire family - whilst living in occupied France.
Sally Bishop, Web Designer
