Papillon  (English, Paperback, Charriere Henri)

A vivid and sensational memoir, Papillon describes Henri’s journey from wrongful conviction and confinement to liberty and freedom.

Summary Of The Book

It is the year 1931. Henri, aged 25, is convicted for a murder he didn’t commit, and is sentenced to serve a term of hard labor at the penal colony of French Guiana. Just forty-two days into serving his prison term, he successfully escapes by travelling a thousand miles on an open boat. His success, however, doesn’t last. He gets recaptured, and is sent to the Devil’s Island penal colony, a container of brutality and disease, where he is to serve his term in solitary confinement. It’s not likely that he will make an attempt at escape from the wildly notorious Devil’s Island penal colony. But, he does.

Making nine daring escapes in thirteen years, and using only a makeshift coconut-sack raft to travel through shark-infested seas, Henri’s account of his run in Papillon is exciting and nothing short of determined daredevilry. With intensity and adventure packed thickly across its pages, this vivid narrative novel is a compelling read.

The accuracy of the story has, however, always been under question. Henri has maintained that the story is accurate. Charrière has said that he narrated the story to a professional writer who then penned it down as a novel.

The book’s title, Papillon, came from the butterfly tattoo on Henri’s chest. Papillon in French translates to butterfly in English. An instant bestseller, Papillon was first published in the year 1969. It was translated from pure French into English for the 1970 edition by Walter B. Michaels and June P. Wilson and was later translated by author Patrick O’Brian. Papillon has also had a film adaption in the year 1973. The film, directed by Franklin J. Schaffner, carried the same title as that of the book.

About Henri Charrière

Henri is a French national and the author of another book titled Banco: The Further Adventures of Papillon. Born in France, Henri went on to serve in the Navy for two years. He then quit the Navy and became a part of the Paris underworld. He later settled in Venezuela, opening restaurants in Maracaibo and Caracas, before returning to France. He died of throat cancer in Madrid, Spain on 29 July 1973.