Papillon's Clipped Wings (Papillon - Henri Charriere)

Member Name: elbar1

Product:	Papillon - Henri Charriere
Date:	16/02/09 (78 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great insight

Disadvantages: Depressing

Papillon is one of the most interesting books I have read in a very long time. It is autobiographical and follows the difficult life of Henri Charriere in the French penal colonies.

The penal colonies are harsh. the solitary confinement is torturous and Charriere paints the picture of boredom and the slowness of time passing brilliantly. The people he meets are varied in character and the book offers a fascinating insight into the mindsets of criminals. The genuine love that these men can feel for each other is often put across in a matter of fact way but this just emphasises the fact that Papillon takes it for granted in some respects. There is no need to explain something out of the ordinary when for him, his love and support and loyalty for those who offer him the same love, support and loyalty is unquestionnable.

Charriere maintains his innocence throughout the book, which makes the experiences that he graphically relays all the more harrowing and unjust. Despite the fact you are reading about the awful punishments dished out to a man who has been fitted up for a crime that he did not commit, I found it very hard to empathise with Papillon at any point in the book. Perhaps it is because he comes from the underworld and in my snobbish opinion, there is no smoke without fire. Or, perhaps it is because the horrors of penal are just too much for my feminine mind and it is easier to keep detached in order to not be upset by what is written. I just found it extremely hard to understand how human beings can treat each other this badly.

The main impression that I took away from this book is the pointlessness of the penal colonies. If the mindset was that the detainees would be reformed as a result of their time there, I could understand why they were treated so harshly. It would not make it right but there would be some reason for it. However, Papillon had a life sentence. There was no way that he would ever return to France. He was expected to live the rest of his life in penal and to die there. No matter how horrific the crime that he was supposed to have committed, what is the point in torturing someone over such an extended period? For this reason, the book gives a fascinating insight into the attitudes of the French criminal justice system during the early and mid twentieth century.

Charriere has an excellent written style and it is very easy to read this book. The images that he paints are so detailed and memorable that when I left it for a few months (not by choice I can assure you!), I found it very easy to pick up the story where I left it.

This is not the kind of book I would normally read and I only bought it on recommendation. I would highly recommend it to anyone who has not read it. Even if it sounds a little bleak and the subject matter is not something that would normally interest you. The beauty of the descriptive writing, the honesty of the author and the interesting adventures are enough to warrant a read. If you add to this the fabulous character portrayal, it really is a book that you should not leave on the shelf. It really did affect me quite profoundly.

Summary: A must read