"Papillon" by Henri Charrière

[RobP]

Hi there. I've recently read this book and found it to be one of the most uplifting stories ever told! The more so considering it's supposedly a real account (opinions on its veracity vary), all about the strenght and endurance of the human spirit in the face of adversity. Yet I can't seem to find many who have read it. Perhaps it got overshadowed by the film version with Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman (if so, unjustly, as its scope was vastly reduced).
Has anyone read it and enjoyed it as I did?

[Fran]

I can't actually remember reading it but I can still see the book cover .... it had a beautiful engraving of a butterfly on it (that's when I learned that papillon is the French for butterfly).
I do remember the movie though, loved it but then Steve McQueen !!!!!!!!!!!!

[dindindin]

As for Papillon, a good read and an excellent movie. Although some of Mr. Charriere's exploits seem to "have gotten
better in the telling"(he claims to have had trysts with one of The Wardens wive's), you can't gainsay his incredible
spirit. Some of the things he does to survive his inhumane treatment are truly remarkable. I give the book 4/5 and
the movie 5/5.

-- 12 Jul 2012, 08:27 --

I can't actually remember reading it but I can still see the book cover .... it had a beautiful engraving of a butterfly on it (that's when I learned that papillon is the French for butterfly).
I do remember the movie though, loved it but then Steve McQueen !!!!!!!!!!!!

@Fran. Steve McQueen? Wow. You were alive during the Silent Film Era? I heard he was one of only a few to make
the transition from Silent to Talkies. WOW!!!!!!!!!!

-- 12 Jul 2012, 08:32 --

As for Papillon, a good read and an excellent movie. Although some of Mr. Charriere's exploits seem to "have gotten
better in the telling"(he claims to have had trysts with one of The Wardens wive's), you can't gainsay his incredible
spirit. Some of the things he does to survive his inhumane treatment are truly remarkable. I give the book 4/5 and
the movie 5/5.

-- 12 Jul 2012, 08:27 --

I can't actually remember reading it but I can still see the book cover .... it had a beautiful engraving of a butterfly on it (that's when I learned that papillon is the French for butterfly).
I do remember the movie though, loved it but then Steve McQueen !!!!!!!!!!!!

@Fran. Steve McQueen? Wow. You were alive during the Silent Film Era? I heard he was one of only a few to make
the transition from Silent to Talkies. WOW!!!!!!!!!!

[Fran]

@din

Oh you are back all right

[Bernie Spain]

I read this book may years ago but it has always stayed with me as an example of what the human spirit can withstand against all odds. The movie didn't capture that and became just another escape story vehicle for McQueen who did that sort of thing very well. Banco, the follow up book by Monsieur Charriere, dealt with his later, much more sedate, life. It was therefore not as interesting.

[Stardust0262]

Hi Rob P, Yes I have read Papillon, admittedly a few years back. Enjoyed it immensely and like yourself finished the book marvelling at just how strong the human spirit can be. It left me thinking that while we may complain and grizzle about the life problems we encounter in day to day life there have been folk who have truly endured hell on earth.
But having also seem the movie, it was difficult to not see Steve McQueen as the main character.

[Bernie Spain]

What else have you read lately?

[Stardust0262]

My most recent read was Cloudstreet by Tim Winton. A truly great read. Are you familiar with it?

[Bernie Spain]

I am. I must admit I haven't read it. I find Tim Winton very hard to read, can't really put my finger on why. Not as hard as Patrick White and certainly not as hard as James Joyce (who I find impossible). I've just finished The Cobra by Frederick Forsythe, an adventure type story probably more suited to males and I've recently re-read Gone With The Wind, an absolute classic. I started Romanitas which is based on the premise that the Roman Empire never crumbled and that we're all still living as Roman citizens. Interesting concept but the narrative soon ran out of pace and I lost interest. Still thinking about what to tackle next.

[Stardust0262]

Cloudstreet was my first Tim Winton book. I really enjoyed the rough edge/ramshackle descriptions of his characters and their environment. The setting of immediate post WW2 and the descriptions of Sam at the horse races reminded me some of my paternal grandfather-maybe I felt a familiarity with some of the characterisations.
Joyce - also a no go for me. Tried Ulysess probably 3 times over the years, never made much headway.

[Bernie Spain]

Where are you based? Australia?

[Stardust0262]

Hi Bernie, yes I'm in South Australia.

[Bighuey]

I read Papillon a long time ago. As I remember, I liked it.

[Bernie Spain]

I'm in Perth. Are you a writer as well as a reader?

[Maud Fitch]

Yep, "Papillon" is certainly a rip-roaring read and I can remember cringing over the graphic bits. Charrière was a bit
of a storyteller and was challenged over its accuracy. Apparently not all the events were true because the things he describes don't match up with the actual timeframe of events. It's more likely a compilation of stories from several of Charrière's jail companions, chiefly Charles Brunier. Fiction or not, it's still a great book.

(PS: Nice to have some Aussie readers onboard)