A review by readinggrrl
Papillon by Henri Charrière

4.0

An unbelievable story of adventure and redemption. Henri called Papillon or Papi by his friends is sentenced to life imprisonment and makes it his goal to escape. He escapes once and winds up with a native tribe where he lives for almost a year. He leaves still bent on revenge against the people who wrongly imprisoned him. Leaving behind 2 pregnant wives and a new family of friends he tries to make his way back to France, but is captured and sent back to prison where he spends 8 years trying to escape again. Although he keeps trying to escape he wants to do it with as little impact on the other prisoners or the guards and wardens. He finally gives up his idea of revenge and decides to move forward and just live.

I really loved this book. It was so fascinating and I had a hard time remembering that it was a true story and not fiction.