Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #429553 in Books
• Published on: 2001-04-17
• Binding: Paperback
• 688 pages

Synopsis
Condemned for a murder he had not committed, Henri Charriere (nicknamed Papillon) was sent to the penal colony of French Guiana. Forty-t wo days after his arrival he made his first break, travelling a thousand gruelling miles in an open boat. Recaptured, he suffered a solitary confinement and was sent eventually to Devil's Island, a hell-hole of disease and brutality. No one had ever escaped from this notorious prison - no one until Papillon took to the shark infested sea supported only by a makeshift coconut-sack raft. In 13 years he made nine daring escapes, living through many fantastic adventures while on the run - including a sojourn with South American Indians whose women Papillon found welcomely free of European restraints. This book is Henry Charriere's memoir of prison breaks and adventure.

Customer Reviews

The best 4 quid you will ever spend
I will never look at a metal cigar shaped tube again in the same way...

What an amazing story of human endurance. It's about a man who tries to escape a penal colony early last century. I'll not say any more as it will spoil it for you....just buy it!

excellant
This book made me realise that sometimes we meet people that do not deserve the position they have, and sometimes people that have nothing deserve a whole lot more,I have never ever taken a person at face value since. After reading this book words can not express.

unmissable
This is the best book I have ever read. There are questions over whether it is a true story but even if one tenth is true it is still the greatest adventure I have ever heard of.

I have lent this book to all my friends and the reply is the same AMAZING.

If you read this book then you must read Banco the follow up.

I have read a number of biographies such as Kray's Frankie Frazier, Roy Shaw, Mclean. The difference is that in the mentioned books I really didn't care too much for the characters as they were hardened gansters who did wrong.

I felt for Papillion throughout this book and just wish I could read more of his adventures.

If you are reading this and you haven't read the book BUY IT!