They Shall Not Have Me cover art

They Shall Not Have Me

The Capture, Forced Labor, and Escape of a French Prisoner in World War II

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They Shall Not Have Me

By: Jean Helion
Narrated by: Robin Sachs
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About this listen

A moving and engrossing symbol of resilience and integrity, Hélion’s daring story of imprisonment and escape under the Nazi regime is now available in this stunning audiobook.

The French painter Jean Hélion’s unique and deeply moving account of his experiences in Nazi prisoner-of-war camps prefigures the even darker stories that would emerge from the concentration camps. This serious adventure tale begins with Hélion’s infantry platoon fleeing from the German army and warplanes as they advanced through France in the early days of the war. The soldiers chant as they march and run, “They shall not have me!” but are quickly captured and sent to hard labor.

Writing in English in 1943, after his risky escape to freedom in the United States, Hélion vividly depicts the sights, sounds, and smells of the camps, and shrewdly sizes up both captors and captured.

In the deep humanity, humor, and unsentimental intelligence of his observations, we can recognize the artist whose long career included friendships with the likes of Mondrian, Giacometti, and Balthus, and an important role in shaping modern art movements. Hélion’s picture of almost two years without his art is a self-portrait of the artist as a man.

©2012 The special contents of this edition by Skyhorse Publishing, Inc. Introduction 2012 by Deborah Rosenthal. Afterword 2012 by Jacqueline Helion, 1943 by Jean Helion (P)2012 Audible, Inc. Europe France Military Military & War World War II War Veteran Prisoners of War Witty Imperialism

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Editor reviews

The late Robin Sachs was tasked with the challenge of performing Jean Helion's moving account of his time imprisoned by the Nazi army. Sachs, of course, gives an engaging and sincere performance, putting listeners right into the trenches with Helion as he is captured and then escapes from a Nazi prisoner-of-war camp. Jean Helion, an accomplished abstract painter, had been living abroad in America, but a call to duty sent him home to France, and ultimately right into the Nazis hands. They Shall Not Have Me is a harrowing and unflinching look at one of modern Europe's most dark eras.
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A French soldier is captured as France collapses in WW 2, and the account provides great details of his imprisonment and later of the complexities involved in his successful escape. They didn't get him and the book shows exactly why.

Detailed and harrowing account of prisoner of war

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account from the eyes of a French soldier that had been captured by the nazis. The narrator was very good.

An amazing....

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luved the story. different from usual world war 2 stories. not set in a concentration camp.

wolrd war 2

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Good to read this well written account. Very well worth it. A different perspective than others I have read

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a tale from a generation who has so much sadness, turmoil, tragedy, harshness and injustice thrown at them. a true story of fortitude, mental resilience, resourcefulness and humanness. I remain in awe of of those who fought Nazism and found moments for tenderness for other less fortunate human beings. this is a beautiful translation of French to English, wonderfully read. you can help but really like the author, who tells his story with humility. you would want the author to be advocating for you if you were ever a POW.

detailed account of a French POW in WW2. well read, gripping

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This was a good listen from start to finish. The tough life of a French POW who never let his Nazi guards break his spirit.The retreat of the French army in the face of Hitler's lightening war is told from a soldiers viewpoint.

What an exceptional man

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One for night in


Good to put the timer on so I could catch up were i fell asleep all in all a good book

Good read took some eyeing in too but was ok send

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The narration was a bit mundane to follow at times but overall a brilliant story about the risk and struggles people had to endure during the time of occupation in the Second World War. Well worth a listen

Really interesting story

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Great well done story of escape during WW2. Some great descriptive characters throughout the story giving insight into the harshness suffered by all those under occupation. You have to remember that the book was written during the war and that prisoners were still being held in the same camp, I always want to know what happened to characters after the war, did others escape, did they survive. This book just basically ends.

Great Story of the horrors of WW2 under occupation and when a prisoner

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I've read a number of war stories both fictional, biographical and documentary style but this was the first book in which I had learnt of the plight of French Soldiers. The story is a little slow but does offer a fascinating glimpse into a whole new dimension to the war.

Enlightening

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