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Little Cyclone
Little Cyclone: The Girl who Started the Comet Line | Airey Neave
3 posts | 1 read | 9 to read
The exhilarating true story of the greatest escape route of the Second World War On a hot afternoon in August 1941, a 24-year-old Belgian woman walks into the British consulate in Bilbao, neutral Spain, and demands to see the consul. She presents him with a British soldier she has smuggled all the way from Brussels, through Occupied France and over the Pyrenees. It is a journey she will make countless times thereafter, at unthinkable danger to her own life. Her name is Andre de Jongh, though she will come to be known as the Little Cyclone in tribute to her extraordinary courage and tenacity. And she is an inspiration. From nursing wounded Allied servicemen, de Jongh will go on to establish the most famous escape line of the Second World War, saving the lives of more than 800 airmen and soldiers stranded behind enemy lines. The risks, however, will be enormous. The cost, unspeakably tragic. Her story is shot through with the constant terror of discovery and interception of late-night knocks at the door, of disastrous moonlit river crossings, Gestapo infiltrators, firing squads and concentration camps. It is also a classic true story of fear overcome by giddying bravery. Originally published shortly after the war, Little Cyclone is a mesmerising tale of the best of humanity in the most unforgiving circumstances: a remarkable and inspiring account to rival the most dramatic of thrillers. Royalties from the sale of this book will go to the Airey Neave Trust.
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britt_brooke
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⭐️⭐️⭐️ Andrée De Jongh served as inspiration for the The Nightingale. She & her father stealthily created the Comet Line, an escape route to help allied soldiers/airmen get out of Belgium, through occupied France, into Spain, & back home. She & her numerous helpers eventually worked with British intelligence, including Airey Neave, who penned this book. It‘s a bit dry, & there are a ton of people to keep straight, but it‘s a fascinating story.

Reviewsbylola Black coffee?! You‘re a badass! 6y
britt_brooke @Reviewsbylola It‘s the only way I can justify the amount of coffee I consume. 😆💪🏻 6y
111 likes2 comments
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britt_brooke
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Thank you so much, Lesley! 🤗 I‘ve been wanting to read this since learning The Nightingale was based on this real life badass woman. @Eyelit

#kindlitsy

Eyelit Glad you got it - and so sorry about the delay (due to my boneheaded mistake) 😊 6y
britt_brooke @Eyelit Please do not even worry about it!! 😚😚 6y
Lmstraubie I had no idea! LOVED The Nightingale. Adding this. 6y
britt_brooke @Lmstraubie I‘m so curious about the real person. Should be interesting! 6y
mom2bugnbee Stacked! The Nightingale was one of my top reads of 2017. 6y
106 likes1 stack add5 comments
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britt_brooke
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Belgian Andreé de Jongh is the real woman who inspired Kristin Hannah's The Nightingale. What a badass! #TBR #Resistance #JuneTunz

Lcsmcat Cool! Stacked. 8y
Suet624 Ohhhh, loved The Nightingale. Thanks for highlighting this one. Stacked! 8y
Cinfhen Thanks for putting this one on my radar! So stacked!!!! 8y
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Cinfhen Also love the graphics 💕 8y
britt_brooke @Lcsmcat @Suet624 I haven't read it yet, but it sounds so interesting. 8y
britt_brooke @Cinfhen Sure thing! And thanks. 😁 Loving this challenge! 💚👏🏻 It's fun to see the different interpretations. 8y
97 likes7 stack adds6 comments