The Nine Audiobook By Gwen Strauss cover art

The Nine

The True Story of a Band of Women Who Survived the Worst of Nazi Germany

Preview

Try for $0.00
Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

The Nine

By: Gwen Strauss
Narrated by: Juliet Stevenson
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $20.24

Buy for $20.24

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Cancel

About this listen

The Nine follows the true story of the author’s great aunt Hélène Podliasky, who led a band of nine female resistance fighters as they escaped a German forced labor camp and made a 10-day journey across the front lines of World War II from Germany back to Paris.

This program includes a bonus conversation with the author, as well as an archival recording of Martine Podliasky singing the Champs de Marais at her mother, Hélène Podliasky's, funeral.

The nine women were all under 30 when they joined the resistance. They smuggled arms through Europe, harbored parachuting agents, coordinated communications between regional sectors, trekked escape routes to Spain, and hid Jewish children in scattered apartments. They were arrested by French police, interrogated and tortured by the Gestapo. They were subjected to a series of French prisons and deported to Germany.

The group formed along the way, meeting at different points, in prison, in transit, and at Ravensbrück. By the time they were enslaved at the labor camp in Leipzig, they were a close-knit group of friends. During the final days of the war, forced onto a death march, the nine chose their moment and made a daring escape.

Drawing on incredible research, this powerful, heart-stopping narrative is a moving tribute to the power of humanity and friendship in the darkest of times.

A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin's Press

"A compelling, beautifully written story of resilience, friendship and survival. The story of Women’s resistance during World War II needs to be told and The Nine accomplishes this in spades." (Heather Morris, New York Times best-selling author of Cilka's Journey)

"This haunting account provides yet more evidence not only of the power of female friendship but that the often unrecorded courage and resilience of ordinary women must be honored and celebrated. It’s a most inspiring read.... Utterly gripping." (Anne Sebba, author of Les Parisiennes)

"The Nine is poignant, powerful, and shattering, distilling the horror of the Holocaust through the lens of nine unforgettable women.... Gwen Strauss melds a poet's pen and a decade of research into a tale of friendship, courage, and indomitable will." (Kate Quinn, New York Times best-selling author)

©2021 Gwen Strauss (P)2021 Macmillan Audio
Historical Women World War II War France Military Scary Heartfelt Inspiring Thought-Provoking
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

What listeners say about The Nine

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    342
  • 4 Stars
    39
  • 3 Stars
    7
  • 2 Stars
    3
  • 1 Stars
    3
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    305
  • 4 Stars
    36
  • 3 Stars
    8
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    3
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    309
  • 4 Stars
    30
  • 3 Stars
    6
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    4

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A lovely tribute

Well done! This book read like historical fiction but it was not fiction at all. Very well written!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

The Women.

The helping hands to each other and encouragement they shared. An amazing story. I did listen to the authors summary at the end and wondered what she would think about the anti semitism spreading through out American now. Also where are women against trans in womens sports. Excellent story from of bravery and friendship.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Sooo good!

This was such an amazing book! The story line is just amazing. I can't say enough good things.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I loved this story.

Book is so good. so inspiring. narration is good too. great read! enjoy the journey.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

The Mine

A very interesting book. It shows the extraordinary will to live and the horrors of war on everyday people.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Powerful

I felt deeply moved by this account of what became of people in the resistance of World War Two. It is stunning how brave some people are and how cruel some people can be. It was interesting to hear what happened to people when the war ended. The book was very well researched and well read.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A book of enlightenment

A difficult story to tell. But done so beautifully. Told by a woman about women. Their horrors and bravery will stay with you forever.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Recommend

The author did an amazing job bring to life these nine ladies. She discusses the physical, emotional, personal and social cost that they paid. I personally loved that we get to learn about their lives after the war. Such an important aspect that gets over looked.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Awesome story

Enjoy everything on WW2 and all who helped the Jews and other mistreated persons. This story being based on true facts was even more meaningful. Highly recommend.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful book

I loved this book. This was an amazing story about some amazing women. Definitely worth listening to.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!