Papillon (P.S.) | 
 enlarge | Author: Henri Charriere
Publisher: Harper Perennial Modern Classics
Category: Book
List Price: $15.95
Buy New: $6.85
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Avg. Customer Rating:  5 reviews
Sales Rank: 18948
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 576
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 7.9 x 5.3 x 0.9
ISBN: 0061120669
Dewey Decimal Number: 365.6092
EAN: 9780061120664
ASIN: 0061120669
Publication Date: August 1, 2006
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Product Description
Henri Charriere, called "Papillon," for the butterfly tattoo on his chest, was convicted in Paris in 1931 of a murder he did not commit. Sentenced to life imprisonment in the penal colony of French Guiana, he became obsessed with one goal: escape. After planning and executing a series of treacherous yet failed attempts over many years, he was eventually sent to the notorious prison, Devil's Island, a place from which no one had ever escaped . . . until Papillon. His flight to freedom remains one of the most incredible feats of human cunning, will, and endurance ever undertaken. Charriere's astonishing autobiography, Papillon, was published in France to instant acclaim in 1968, more than twenty years after his final escape. Since then, it has become a treasured classic -- the gripping, shocking, ultimately uplifting odyssey of an innocent man who would not be defeated.
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| Customer Reviews:
 Much Better than the Movie May 12, 2008
Excellent and quick read, notwithstanding the length (540 pages). Much better than the film, starring Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman released in approximately 1973-74. I felt a stronger than normal sympathy and admiration for the never-give-up, protagonist, Papillon. After reading this book I have a greater respect for the simple freedoms that many of us take for granted.
Papillon April 8, 2008
Sweet Papillon, wondrous butterfly; keep going man freedom's just a head, and you can see it in that sunset.
 True story? Yeah, right..... September 26, 2007
1 out of 6 found this review helpful
While I suspect certain elements of Papillon are true, e.g. the conditions in the "bagne" and general state of French penal code when it was written, you would have to be pretty gullible to believe the story itself to be true. The author suffers through a number of escape attempts that could each be the basis of a feature film, and proves to be virtually indestructible in situations that claim the lives of everyone else surrounding him. But even so, it's a good adventure story.
The believability meter for me finally broke when our hero (who is loved by all, including all the guards, wardens, convicts, etc), becomes adopted by Indians who typically hate all outsiders. Not only do they take Papillon in, but they offer him lovely virgins to bear his children and tearfully wave bye-bye when he abandons them! Please.
Research on Papillon confirms the book was originally planned as a novel, which makes a lot more sense. Either way, it is an entertaining read.
This riveting autobiography won't let you put it down June 25, 2007
11 out of 11 found this review helpful
The thing that Henri Charriere desired most was his freedom. A French prisoner, he never stopped plotting ways to escape. The only time when he didn't have a plan in motion was when he was either in solitary, or upon personal request of the warden (they would request that he didn't escape so that they could finish their term, and not have their record/pension ruined by his escape).
This autobiography spares no details about the violence and horrors that surrounded the prisoners daily. He loses a number of his friends to disease, or murder. Papillon was generally respected by his fellow prisoners, and the administration. He was quick to criticize the administration to their face. Many of the wardens and doctors even agreed with how screwed up the French justice system was.
Henri is very detailed about his experiences and escapes. He remembers well the people who aided him before, during and after an escape. You will find yourself rooting for Henri with each escape attempt!
There has been some criticism that say that Henri took details from other prisoners' accounts or that some of the anecdotes are made up. Regardless, this autobiographical tale of escape is better than any work of prison escape fiction that can ever be written.
 Quick read, exciting, but stretches credulity after awhile. May 21, 2007
1 out of 12 found this review helpful
Papillon is the roughest, toughest, rootenist, tootenist, best lover, and most fair, prisoner ever. And these are his adventures trying to escape from prison.
At a certain point, the book had all the believability of a Penthouse forum letter.
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