Research the actions taken by the Maquis during World War II. Then, compare what you have learned with the events in Code Name Hélène. What are the key similarities and differences? How do the differences enhance or detract from the novel?

Discuss the scenes of violence in the text, such as the torture of Roger le Neveu or the old woman in Vienna. Why were these scenes depicted so graphically? What purpose does this serve?

What is the function of the dual timelines in the text? How would the meaning or impact of the story differ if it were told in strictly chronological order?

What are the similarities and differences between the characters Fournier and Gaspard? What themes or ideas do each man represent? How do the challenges and triumphs they each face contribute to those themes?

Consider the role of alcohol in the novel. What does alcohol represent to the characters? What is the relationship between the effects alcohol has on the human body and what alcohol symbolizes to the characters and their society?

Nancy both conforms to and defies the gender expectations of her time. What do her rebellions against the expectations of women reveal about her society? What does it reveal when she uses gendered expectations of her to her advantage?

How does Nancy change throughout the novel? What do the changes suggest about the nature of war?

Marceline is Nancy’s foil. What do their different approaches to getting what they want in a society that dismisses women suggest about the nature of misogyny and the challenges of overcoming it?

Describe Nancy and Denis Rake’s relationship. How is it similar to and different from Nancy’s other friendships? What does this relationship reveal about gendered expectations of men?