Papillon Pocket Book – June 6, 2002

I've read the book twice now, and i still can't believe what he went through. Seems so archaic of a system.I have been deeply inspired by his relentless quest for freedom.Really engaging, forget the movie it doesn't do the book justice.

Much better than the movies, especially in original, native language

Ordered for my father. Came in a timely manner and with no product issues.

Great book

A petty thief wrongfully convicted of murder by a French court in 1931. The bulk of this narrative, and it is a tremendous one, is this man's incarcerations in penal colonies in French Guyana: the many escape scenarios and attempts; the final escape to the mainland; and 2 years living with the local Indians.Charriere's writing style is spontaneous, lucid, and totally without pretense; real storytelling prowess. The storylines are inbued with perserverance, grit, and undercurrents of humor. He never surrenders to despair; his sense of intrepid survival and courage sustain him throughout the 13 years of his imprisonments. The will to live is the engine that drives these riveting episodes.The question of the authenticity of this narrative, like the Castaneda books, arises; but ultimately, it doesn't matter if this story is true or not. This is an adventure story; and hyperbole is always involved in the narration of any adventure, regardless of degree. It is the power of the storyteller that mesmerizes the listener/reader in this, a hero's journey. In this case, it is a journey of liberation from a series of hells.After reading this book, you will come away feeling enriched by this man's intrepid spirit. Highly recommended.Extracts: A Field Guide for Iconoclasts

Très bonne histoire. Charriere est un bon chroniqueur,

great read before a trip to French Guyana

I purchased this book online and no where on the amazon page did it say the book was in French. Unfortunately I can't read French and the book is useless