Overview
In a true story of bravery and courage in occupied Paris, the tale of Andrée Griotteray's work as an underground intelligence courier is shared by her daughterAndrée Griotteray was only 19 when the Germans invaded France. Just another young teenager, in search of fun and frivolity, she suddenly found herself living in an occupied city, forced to work alongside the men who had invaded her country. Unable to stand by and do nothing, her younger brother Alain created his own resistance network. Andrée risked her life to help him without hesitation. Through her job at the passport department of the Police Headquarters in Paris, she typed up and printed copies of an underground newspaper and stole blank ID cards for those attempting to escape France. She traveled across the country, picking up and dropping off intelligence ultimately destined for the British and Americans, always fearless in the face of immense pressure, until the day that she was betrayed and arrested. For the first time Andrée's story is told in English, by her own daughter. Based on her diaries and conversations over the years, Francelle brings her mother's story to life—the narrow escapes and moments of terror alongside typical teenager concerns about food, fashion, and boys. Despite her lifelong modesty, Andrée has been lauded by the French government for her bravery. Now her achievements will reach a new audience.Reviews
"I very much enjoyed hearing of Andrée's story. It's wonderful to hear such stories of bravery. I'm pleased to support local authors and the very good cause that Francelle Bradford White is donating the royalties to fight Alzheimer's disease and dementia." —Greg Hands, MP for Fulham & Chelsea
"An interesting book… touching in its juxtaposition of war news with a young woman's preoccupation with clothes, boyfriends and, as the war went on, the search for food." —Barbara Dryden, Call Me MadamAuthor Biography
Francelle Bradford White first learned about her mother's exploits in World War II when she was six years old and has been fascinated by her achievements ever since.