Little Cyclone: The Girl who Started the Comet Line (Dialogue Espionage Classics)

Biography of the famous escape line leader, Andree de Jongh, by the as-famous Colditz escaper and MI9 leader, Airey Neave.I really wanted to like this, being a firm admirer of the woman, but I felt the book seemed to hold back a lot, even although it did give a fair insight into her character. I think it has aged, and I note there are now more modern appreciations of her, which probably are fuller on her accomplishments.

'Little Cyclone' was the nickname given to Andrée de Jongh by her father. She was generally known amongst the Resistance just as Dédée. In 1941 Dédée and her father set up the Comet Line to smuggle Allied servicemen from Belgium across France and the Pyrenees to the British Consulate in Bilbao. From there the British took them onward to Gibraltar and then flew them home.Hundreds of people worked for the line, and about thirty of them are mentioned by name in this book. (Some are mentioned by two names - real name and codename.) The most important figures are described more fully.The book was first published in 1954. Airey Neave clearly had great affection and admiration for the organisation, and I suppose it was written as a token of gratitude. Possibly, therefore, it's not a completely objective account. For example, Dédée's character comes across as implausibly perfect in my opinion; we don't hear about any foibles or weaknesses. Nevertheless it's a very exciting story and a great legend of the twentieth century.( Evader  by Derek Shuff looks at the line from a different perspective.)

This is a book about the organisation who ran the escape lines which gave our airman and others encouragement that they would be brought back through spain if they hade to bale out of their plane. As usual if the line was broken it was quickly mended to keep the line intact.#It was run by every day people who gave their time and energy to the cause.Many of the helpers lost their lives in doing this type of work all of the british people owe them so much as they did a first class job.

absolutely first book, riveting from start to finish, it restores your confidence in some of the human race.

This re-release of a 1950s's story by the late Airey Neave is very good. It tells an improbable but very true story of a young Belgian woman who again and again escorted allied airmen from Belgium, through France and across the Pyrenees and home to England to fly again against the Luftwaffe! A great story of true bravery.

An extremely exciting and emotionally disturbing read, especially know it all to be true.The cost in lives by the various guides was truly amazing, given all the circumstance, weather, terrain and the constant threat of discovery, notwithstanding what happened when they were caught.A very well written account of some exceptionally brave women and men - a tremendous read.

Couldn't put it down

Not especially well-written despite the undoubted pedigree of the late author. It doesn't flow but is too disjointed.

Great story.

I have read many books about heroism, and heroinism, in times of war. This is one of the most impressive and inspiring I have ever read. Don't be concerned about various readers saying it is poorly written. Who the heroines/heroes were inside themselves and what they did is amongst the best that humanity has to give. This book is about the young woman who started and for a while was a leader of the famed Comet Line of underground resistors who rescued British and American pilots shot down in WW II. Be aware that the story in this book is summarized in another book, The Freedom Line, which provides a broader context, focusing especially after the Little Cyclone was arrested, whereas this book gives more detail before she was arrested. If I could only buy one, I'd buy the Freedom Line, but I'm glad I could buy both.

I had never read about the famed "Comet Line" before and found the story so amazing. How brave these people were - it is so hard to believe. So interesting to read about. True that the story kind of jumped here and there but I was still able to get a rather full view of all that went on and how these people all interacted. Amazing. Started the book in the am and finished before I had to go to bed. I probably would have stayed up to read even past my bedtime. But I recommend this book to anyone. I almost feel guilty of using the word "entertaining" because of the content and the terror that all these people learned to live with on a daily basis, but it sure kept me reading. I love personal stories. Good book!

Fascinating book of the true story of underground escape path and the real people who risked or sacrificed their lives to aid allied forces downed behind enemy lines. This book came from library archives of European library as that library sold off some books.There is a modern fiction book based on the research of similar rescue lines titled, ‘Nightengale’ but it was touching to read a true account in ‘Little Cyclone...” and see pictures of the real heroes.

Loved this true story of courage and inspiration. I found it was a bit hard to follow at times, probably because the author was not a true "writer", but a military officer. A lot of names thrown in rather randomly and difficult to keep up with them all. However, it is certainly worth reading and learning about an important part of history that has been overlooked.

Great story. Very hard to get through because of writing style. Jumped all over the place and overuse of pronouns so it was hard to keep track of who to the author was talking about. French phrases without translation made it difficult to follow for those unfamiliar with French. Dates contradicted each other throughout. Glad I learned about this great story but it will only be read once.

I am rarely moved to review books I read on kindle, but this is exceptionally good. Yes, the writing is uneven and the storyteller less comptent than others, but this is made up for by the tales of amazing courage by the men and women that risked all rescuing Allied servicemen from occupied territory.It is a good thing that the book has been reissued and the story of such heroism made avalable to a new generation.

I typically enjoyed this book. I read every name at the end to keep alive their sacrifice for many men must read

Sorry Brave hit it for six with this story of the Comet Line in World War II. The narrative is gripping. I couldn't put it down!

Andree de Jongh is now one of my favorite heroes. A woman of decency and compassion, bravery and wit. She saved many lives, almost at the cost of her own. Very well written. Inspirational.

Presents a picture of courage and sacrifice of occupied patriots risking all tosave and return downed Allied airman.

Great story and history of the line. Great detail and amazing history. Unfortunately I didn't like the way it was written and I felt like the writer tried to romanticize it too much, adding embellishments that not only couldn't be proven but weren't necessary to add to the already amazing true story. Things like assuming what a person who died did or heard before they were killed when there was no one else there to know what they did, heard or felt. Quick read that was informative to someone who doesn't want a whole lot of detail.

Andree de Jongh was a true hero! This book shows you can make a difference at any age. So many sacrificed their lives for people that they didn’t even know. These are the things our children should be learning in school.

Irregular style. Some very descriptive passages contrasted with bare bones lists of names. Important story that might be better told in historic fiction. Reading this with thr Nightingale gave a greater insight into challenges and relationships.

I quite enjoy this book, certainly a very good read, if you're into resistance books. Recommend highly..hope you enjoy it as much as I DID