by Henri Charrière, Patrick O'Brian
There's some dispute over whether this is 100% factual, but even so it's a good read.Henri Charriere is sent to the French penal colonies after being set up.Tells of his time on the islands and various escape attempts.It's told in an engaging style, and he brings other characters to life. Some of hi...
An amazing story about an innocent man's will to survive and escape the abhorrent conditions of the French penal institutions in Guiana in 1931. It is book full of adventure, intrigue, friendship,sorrow, joy, heartache, revenge, life, persistence and fate! it's a gripping story and a page turner.
16/6 - Knowing nothing about this book or Charrière, only knowing the word papillon and it's English translation through the fact that there's a dog breed that's called papillon because the dog's fluffy ears (vaguely) resemble a butterfly's wings, I picked this up off the 'new and recently returned'...
I think it's mostly his style, in many senses of the word, which keep this thing so readable. Otherwise, he'd have naturally had long dry spells barely worth recording. It may have helped that he's said to have written it all out in 2 days or so. I've heard it suggested that he couldn't have lived a...
Up until I got bored with it, the writing was good. But some of the "adventures", I have to say - Yeah, righ. Male Wish Fullment.
4.11951864
French Guiana.Eh. As long as you understand it's fiction (in the style made famous by A Million Little Pieces) it's interesting enough, though it's picaresque and there's really no developmental self-reflection. There is more insertion into and extraction of objects from the anus than in much pornog...
A rousing tale of adventure that gives the account of the only man ever to escape from Devil's Island. There has been questions over the years about the book's authenticity, but -- true or false -- it's perfect escapist fare (pun intended.)
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