ebooks Avenue of Spies: A True Story of Terror; Espionage; and One American Family's Heroic Resistance in Nazi-Occupied Paris by Alex Kershaw in History

Review

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Experience the reality of WW 2 history in France with Alex Kershaw's latest.By Mrs. Nancy L. McavoyAlex Kershaw in his latest book Avenue of Spies has lifted a hazy veil from history's eyes. Behind this curtain he has revealed the reality of Paris; France being occupied by Nazi German during WW2. The scenes and secrets of F Avenue in Paris are viewed before and after Nazie power by telling the reader a true story of the Jackson family; American physician; Sumner; Swiss born wife; Toquette and 12 year old son Phillip.Avenue of Spies takes the reader into a time tunnel of courage that shakes off fear and steps into heroes; while Nazi bullies betray not only their leader; Hitler but become the worst kind of cowards by torturing and killing men; women and children so they can conquer a city for their own narcissistic pleasures.Each detail of the temporary siege is researched by Alex Kershaw with integrity and personal interviews. As the story of the siege unfolds the reader becomes closely acquainted with not only the many tormentors of cruelty but the many of courage of the French Resistance and how they gave there"all" even through torture to protect those in their care.From beginning to end; the story holds the reader's thoughtful attention with the smallest of details to what the people ate; decorated their rooms; to the terror in their bravery even in the camps of cruelty.If one wants to experience the reality of history one needs only to read Alex Kershaw.To me; personally; it seemed like a guide book on how -Americans- should and could conduct one's self with pride that we had done all we could to defeat the enemy that might occupy us.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. WonderfulBy CustomerIncredible story; beautifully written; about this beyond brave family; active in the Resistance while living surrounded by the top Nazis in Paris. The whole book was fascinating - the most vivid portrait of occupied Paris that I have ever read - and I read it in a few sittings. By the middle I couldn't put it down. As much as I have read and heard about World War II; the Resistance; and the Holocaust; there was so much here that was new to me. What happened at Lubeck Bay right at the end of the war; for instance. And; of course; throughout; I kept asking myself what would I have done; had I been in their shoes. Quite a family; quite a story. Highly recommend.40 of 41 people found the following review helpful. -Being Brave Does Not Come Easily To Most Of Mankind- Phillip SumnerBy C. IrishIf you want to read at least one great book this summer; I strongly suggest you pick this one. I feel as though I was transported to Paris; to Avenue Foch from the beginning of the German Occupation and stayed until the liberation-though in reality; it was only a two day stay. From the second I began to peruse the first page as I usually do when I get a new book; I could hardly put this down. Avenue Of Spies by Alex Kershaw has it all: guts and glory; horror; bravery; cowardice; greed; atrocity and heartbreak all with a backdrop of love; kindness and most of all; bravery.Alex Kershaw's writing style is spectacularly simple but gives the reader an acute understanding of what is happening which is rare when I read history; and is a sure sign of a good writer-I have read quite a few books about WWII this year; and this book by far is my favorite-but it's not even the history that is riveting in the pages of this book-it's the story of heroes. In this tale; Kershaw recreates the German Occupation in the City Of Lights. His subject is an American; Dr. Sumner Jackson; who lived on the posh Avenue Foch with his wife; Toquette; and their boy; Phillip. Dr. Sumner was the head doctor at the American Hospital in Paris and if that wasn't enough; he chose to help in the resistance against the Nazis as did Toquette and Phillip. Even when they could have gotten out; they stayed. Even when things got perilously close in danger they didn't leave-when the noose began to tighten on Foch Avenue and they were surrounded by the enemy; they stood firm.This book is inspirational. It could change a life. It could inspire you; dear reader; to be bigger than yourself. With the example of the human beings in the pages of this book; you could be bigger and better than ever and aspire to do good things. This is no mere history book; though the history is appallingly real; this book is more about humans at their best and their worst. This story is about real people who faced an empire and did not back down though most did. The hunger; the horror; the power the Nazis held over France was impressively strong and Paris fell with a whimper due in part by what had happened in Poland; but in the background there were people such as Sumner; his wife; Louise Marie Dissard; Violette Szabo; British Intelligence and other forces who where chipping away at the regime with the very real cost of being caught and murdered. The Gestapo and the SS had sinister ways in which to capture those in the resistance; such as the Funkspiel; where the Germans would impersonate a British spy after taking control of a their radio. In this way; and others; they were able to crack into the line of resistance fighters and gain valuable information. It was a cat and mouse game on Foch Street and the Sumners never knew when someone would turn them in or confess information after being tortured. Parisians left and right were either working for the Germans or had befriended them.So; if you want to read a really great book-pick this one. This is an incredibly great story. I can't recommend it more. I was literally stuck to this book for two days and while I wasn't reading it; I was talking about it.I would also suggest the Notes in the back of the book for further information and reading. I also see that Alex Kershaw has written several other books and I intend to get them. This is my great book alert for you. There is no way you would be disappointed reading about great heroes in the midst of terrifying danger in the most beautiful city in the world during one of the ugliest wars in history.