Inside the Foreign Legion

by John Parker

Book Overview

The thought of escaping from the pressures of life leads many anguished young men towards the Foreign Legion. The rose-tinted vision of Beau Geste Overrides the truth -- that life in the so-called... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 074991856X
• ISBN13: 9780749918569
• Release Date: January 1998
• Publisher: Piatkus Books
• Length: 282 Pages
• Weight: 1.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.5" x 9.4"

Customer Reviews

Up To Date History of the Legion

This book presents a nice synopsis of the Legion's history. While a bit short on the Legion's history for the first 100 years, the book provides more details on recent events. Readers may find that this work glosses over the great events of the Legion's early history like Camerone, and the battles in the Crimea and Italy, but the reader will find these aspects covered in other books on this subject. The monumental history by Douglas Porch tended to gloss over these topics as well, and was short on current history. Parker's book takes the Legion from the fall of Algeria up to the present. Forced to become France's emergency intervention force in many of its former colonies, the Legion proves its adaptability and versatile nature. The no-nonsense manner of the Legion often does not endear it to many, but in places like Beruit it was the US Marines who got truck bombed, not the Legion! The combat experience of the Legion proves itself again and again. In the Gulf War the Legion was conducting combat patrols into Iraq long before the highly publisized American in-roads were made. Parker's book makes for fine reading and moves at a fast pace. Unlike Porch who allows himself to get bogged down with endless digressions about Legion morale, desertion etc., this book really lets you know what it's like to be a recruit in the Legion. You get eyewhitness accounts of in your face drill sargeants hammering away at new comers. The many first-hand accounts of recent veterans adds color and interest to the narrative. Parker writes in a lively style, but he does not get carried away as Hugh McLeave does in his earlier book on the Legion. The main strength of this book is on the more recent history of the Legion. Those wanting a more romantized account should turn to Hugh McLeave's "The Damned Die Hard" or Douglas Porch's "Complete History of the French Foreign Legion" if they seek an academic work. Either way, Parker's book should prove useful to augment both works and serves as an addenda for them. Legion fans should grab it!

Very well balanced - A great place to start

"Inside the Foreign Legion" by John Parker is the most balanced book on the Foreign Legion I've read. While Douglas Porch's seminal work still stands as the most thorough and well-documented book on the French Foreign Legion yet produced, it is very difficult to read. It took me months to wade through it. On the other hand, the virtual picture-book published by Yves Debay is more like recruitment propaganda--which is certainly not the case here."Inside the Foreign Legion" strikes a great balance between the two extremes, and is quite readable. While only scratching the surface of many important historical events (such as the few paragraphs given to the invasion of Benin, which Douglas Porch gives a whole chapter), all of the key points are present. The events are put together well, and one gets a very good overview of the Legion's history. Also, this book was published 10 years after Porch's, so there is quite a bit of information on more recent events.Some of the book is geared towards potential recruits, but not a whole lot. If you're looking to join the Legion, this book will provide a lot of good information, but you are better off reading "Life in the French Foreign Legion" by Evan McGorman.If you're looking to learn about the Foreign Legion for the sake of it, this book is excellent. I would reccomend you read this book first. If you then want to learn more information (on pre-1988 events), look to Douglas Porch's "The French Foreign Legion."

Inside Information

The book gives a realistic view of the glory of the FFL. It tells a story that is a good read and I enjoyed the content. The use of real figures to tell part of the story gives insights in to the persons of the FFL. It is a good history of the famed service. It reads well and is entertaining.

Worth reading if you want to join....

What I found interesting about this book that was different from the ones that I have read before about the FFL are the personal stories and comments from les Anciens (ex legionnaires). It gives the reader a different view of things and you get to read it from the men who where there and not only from somebody who spent some time with the legion. What I didn't find good was that the book spent to much time in the past and not enough time in todays legion. I think most people looking for material of the FFL want info what life is like today. But it is still worth reading. Mike...