A classic memoir of prison breaks and adventure -- a bestselling phenomenon of the 1960s Condemned for a murder he had not committed, Henri Charriere (nicknamed Papillon) was sent to the penal colony of French Guiana. Forty-two days after his arrival he made his first break, travelling a thousand gruelling miles in an open boat. Recaptured, he went into 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 thirteen 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! Papillon is filled with tension, adventure and high excitement. It is also one of the most vivid stories of human endurance ever written. Henri Charriere died in 1973 at the age of 66.

About the Author

Henri Charriere

Prizes

A classic memoir of prison breaks and adventure -- a bestselling phenomenon of the 1960s / A brilliant and exciting true-life tale of one of history's greatest escape artists. / Charriere's classic biography has been in print since the 60s and sold close to 10,000 copies last year alone. / Will be rejacketed especially for Spring 2005 and relaunched as a Harper Perennial Classic with illuminating P.S. section with author interview, related features and ideas on what to read next. Includes a piece by Howard Marks on the influence Papillon had on his life. / Competition: Howard Marks