The book that took the world by storm

One of the greatest books – a true story of escape and adventure ever written. I remember buying in at a Higginbotham’s book stall at a railway station many years ago and still have to copy and have re-read in many time and each time it was an engrossing and exciting as the first time.

Henri Charriere was condemned for a murder he had not committed and nicknamed Papillion was sent to penal colony of French Guiana. He made his first break 42 days after his arrival travelling thousand gruelling miles in an open boat. Recaptured  he was put in solitary confinement and eventually sent to Devil’s Island a hell hole  of disease and brutality. No one till then had escaped this  prison but Papillion took  to the shark infested sea supported  only by a makeshift  coconut sack raft.

In 13 years he made 9 daring escapes. Papillion is filled with tension, adventure and high excitement. Henri Charriere died in 1973 at the age of 66.