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Dry Guillotine: Fifteen Years Among the Living Dead
Dry Guillotine chronicles Belbenoit's childhood, the commission of two non-violent and relatively minor thefts from employers, his subsequent capture, conviction, and transportation to French Guiana.
345 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1938
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704 people want to read
About the author
René Belbenoit
8 books8 followersRené Belbenoit was a French prisoner on Devil's Island who successfully escaped to the United States. He later wrote a book, Dry Guillotine, about his exploits.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
April 21, 2025
Escalofriante relato que nos cuenta René Belbenoit sobre su encarcelamiento durante nueve años en la Guayana Francesa.
Nos irá relatando sus vivencias, injusticias y abusos tanto del propio sistema penitenciario como su vida dentro de ese infierno. Llegó a el mediante un robo cometido en su juventud y a mi modo de ver con un castigo sumamente desproporcionado.
Me ha sorprendido la manera tan natural que tiene de contar hechos aberrantes, tan interiorizado estaba que da miedo. Se encontraban tanto aislados como hacinados, sucios, sin apenas agua o comida, sin ropa... El abuso llegaba a tal extremo que los tenían trabajando de sol a sol, sin agua, sin descanso y siempre contenidos por si hacían algo que un guardia pudiera usar en su contra para añadir más días a sus condenas. Aguantando picaduras de toda clase de insectos, sol, humedad, calor, frío...y no sólo expuestos a las inclemencias del tiempo sino que también entre ellos mismos. Peleas, jerarquías, comercio, contrabando y toda clase de situaciones dentro de la cárcel añadían otra piedra más en el camino.
Llegaron incluso a desear y buscar la manera de enfermar gravemente ya que ello suponía una mejora en sus condiciones, tendrían una cama y medicamentos, acceso a comida (siempre y cuando los mismos guardas o enfermeros no traficaran con ella) y sobre todo contacto humano.
Seremos testigos de sus intentos de fuga y rezaremos porque pueda salir airoso y volver a vivir.
Es una lectura muy incómoda y dura ya que todo lo que cuenta y lo que se intuye fue real y a medida que vas adentrándote en la historia y sus entresijos irás deseando, al igual que su protagonista, que nada de lo que ocurrido fuera verdad.
Nos irá relatando sus vivencias, injusticias y abusos tanto del propio sistema penitenciario como su vida dentro de ese infierno. Llegó a el mediante un robo cometido en su juventud y a mi modo de ver con un castigo sumamente desproporcionado.
Me ha sorprendido la manera tan natural que tiene de contar hechos aberrantes, tan interiorizado estaba que da miedo. Se encontraban tanto aislados como hacinados, sucios, sin apenas agua o comida, sin ropa... El abuso llegaba a tal extremo que los tenían trabajando de sol a sol, sin agua, sin descanso y siempre contenidos por si hacían algo que un guardia pudiera usar en su contra para añadir más días a sus condenas. Aguantando picaduras de toda clase de insectos, sol, humedad, calor, frío...y no sólo expuestos a las inclemencias del tiempo sino que también entre ellos mismos. Peleas, jerarquías, comercio, contrabando y toda clase de situaciones dentro de la cárcel añadían otra piedra más en el camino.
Llegaron incluso a desear y buscar la manera de enfermar gravemente ya que ello suponía una mejora en sus condiciones, tendrían una cama y medicamentos, acceso a comida (siempre y cuando los mismos guardas o enfermeros no traficaran con ella) y sobre todo contacto humano.
Seremos testigos de sus intentos de fuga y rezaremos porque pueda salir airoso y volver a vivir.
Es una lectura muy incómoda y dura ya que todo lo que cuenta y lo que se intuye fue real y a medida que vas adentrándote en la historia y sus entresijos irás deseando, al igual que su protagonista, que nada de lo que ocurrido fuera verdad.
May 17, 2009
I am almost certain that I met Belbenoit around 1950. I recall lying on his bed in his one room cabin (in Lucerne, California?), looking at the exposed rafters, while my parents listened to his stories of Devil's Island. Actually, Devil's Island is but one of three islands in the Ilses of Health group, and the majority of the prisoners served not on an island but on the mainland. In 1963 a motorcycle accident left me with lots of free time for reading, and I read his book. (Book or books? I have the impression he wrote more than one.) He must have been quite a man to risk years of solitary confinement in total silence to chance an escape, something any reasonable person would deem impossible.
Belbenoit is not to be confused with Papillon who may or may not have ever even seen Devil's Island. His books smell of fiction from page one. When challenged with discrepencies, Papillon's defense was he did not have a typewriter with him while in prison. Belbenoit was there. He did what he said he had done.
Later: Wikipedia says that Belbenoit moved to Lucerne Valley in 1951, and that he lived at his store. I was off by at least one year. What I thought was a cabin must have been a back room at his store. I can still see the corrugated aluminum roof. I recall nothing about a store. Give me a break, it was around 57 years ago. He died in 1959, about two months before turning 60 and just after marrying and having a child. Oh, and he had been a technical adviser to the film "Passage to Marrseille". Wasn't that with Humphrey Bogart?
Still later: Belbenoit wrote Dry Guillotine under the title I Escpaed from Devil's Island, and he published a book about the French Criminal (In)Justice System.
Belbenoit is not to be confused with Papillon who may or may not have ever even seen Devil's Island. His books smell of fiction from page one. When challenged with discrepencies, Papillon's defense was he did not have a typewriter with him while in prison. Belbenoit was there. He did what he said he had done.
Later: Wikipedia says that Belbenoit moved to Lucerne Valley in 1951, and that he lived at his store. I was off by at least one year. What I thought was a cabin must have been a back room at his store. I can still see the corrugated aluminum roof. I recall nothing about a store. Give me a break, it was around 57 years ago. He died in 1959, about two months before turning 60 and just after marrying and having a child. Oh, and he had been a technical adviser to the film "Passage to Marrseille". Wasn't that with Humphrey Bogart?
Still later: Belbenoit wrote Dry Guillotine under the title I Escpaed from Devil's Island, and he published a book about the French Criminal (In)Justice System.
September 19, 2021
Great story of the author's incarceration and multiple escapes from the penal colony of French Guiana. A raw first hand account of the inhuman conditions faced each day and the barbarism that would lead any man to risk death to escape to freedom.
March 9, 2023
Това е историята на осъдения за две кражби на 8 години, но всъщност доживотна каторга във Френска Гвиана Рене Белбенуа. Предисторията е описана много правдиво и поучително. Рене е син на порядъчен ЖП служител и млада майка, която го изоставя като бебе, за да замине за гувернантка в руския царски двор. Самият той се пита дали това е събитието, което е предопределило живота му, но има и други такива. След смъртта на баба си и дядо си Рене, дотогава добър и старателен ученик, се налага да помага на чичо си в моден бар в Париж. Там той вижда бохемския живот на хайлайфа и лесните пари, в противоречие с разбиранията на бащата. После като младеж участва в Първата Световна война и се връща като герой. Има и предишна ненаказана простъпка, а двете кражби са на оборота в ресторант и бижутата на някаква графиня - места, където работи. Следва тежката затворническа история.
Мнозина не издържат на тежките условия. Системата е такава, че колонията се саморегулира до размера на вместимост на затворите. Обикновено всеки надзирател, полицай или друг персонал, както и който каторжник успее има свой "гешефт" /много удачен превод за мен би бил "далавера"/. За опит за бягство или всевъзможни провинения присъдата неизбежно се увеличава. Който успее да издържи жив срока си, не може да напуска Гвиана, а какво платена работа може да намери пише Белбенуа, след като навсякъде има безплатна алтернатива - каторжници за по-лек режим.
Така че всичко се върти около шансовете за бягство. Белбенуа опитва всичко - джунгли, море, помилване.
Стилът на мемоарите е пестелив и реалистичен. Издадени са на английски - не трябва да се петни Франция. Има гадории - като "избоди ми окото", та зарязвах книгата за ден-два.
Задавах си и въпроса за строгостта на закона, така както когато четох Камю.
4+
Мнозина не издържат на тежките условия. Системата е такава, че колонията се саморегулира до размера на вместимост на затворите. Обикновено всеки надзирател, полицай или друг персонал, както и който каторжник успее има свой "гешефт" /много удачен превод за мен би бил "далавера"/. За опит за бягство или всевъзможни провинения присъдата неизбежно се увеличава. Който успее да издържи жив срока си, не може да напуска Гвиана, а какво платена работа може да намери пише Белбенуа, след като навсякъде има безплатна алтернатива - каторжници за по-лек режим.
Така че всичко се върти около шансовете за бягство. Белбенуа опитва всичко - джунгли, море, помилване.
Стилът на мемоарите е пестелив и реалистичен. Издадени са на английски - не трябва да се петни Франция. Има гадории - като "избоди ми окото", та зарязвах книгата за ден-два.
Задавах си и въпроса за строгостта на закона, така както когато четох Камю.
4+
September 2, 2020
sad story, but good for him in the end
sad translation
sad translation
July 12, 2013
“Dry Guillotine” is the nickname for the solitary confinement cells on St. Joseph Island, one of the Iles du Salut, of which Devil’s Island is a part. Devil’s Island is often confused and used to describe the whole of the French Penal Colony in French Guiana. Rene Belbenoit tells a remarkable story of imprisonment in the penal colony in the 1920’s and 1930’s. His intelligence and detailed notes distinguish his account from other books about the prisons, called bagnes, in French Guiana.
The story is an adventure tale. Imprisoned for theft, Belbenoit was sent to French Guiana in his 20’s. The book describes in detail the prisons, the personalities of the prisoners, and the guards. His book is filled with interesting stories of the other prisoners as well as his own. Belbenoit tries to escape five times, succeeding on his last attempt. (Not a spoiler: his escape route is printed in the beginning of the book). The prisoners arrive by ship, 700 at a time, only 300 will survive their first year. The punishments are cruel. Prisoners who attempt escape are deemed “incorrigible” and punished by solitary and/or to work on the infamous Highway Zero – a road being built in the jungle that never seems to be completed. Prisoners work all day, waist deep in the muck and dying from disease and exposure.
The last part describes Belbenoit’s escape and travels through the coasts and jungles of South America, to Central America, and on to the United States.
This book gives a fascinating account of life in French Penal Colony and the author’s escape. A great adventure book.
The story is an adventure tale. Imprisoned for theft, Belbenoit was sent to French Guiana in his 20’s. The book describes in detail the prisons, the personalities of the prisoners, and the guards. His book is filled with interesting stories of the other prisoners as well as his own. Belbenoit tries to escape five times, succeeding on his last attempt. (Not a spoiler: his escape route is printed in the beginning of the book). The prisoners arrive by ship, 700 at a time, only 300 will survive their first year. The punishments are cruel. Prisoners who attempt escape are deemed “incorrigible” and punished by solitary and/or to work on the infamous Highway Zero – a road being built in the jungle that never seems to be completed. Prisoners work all day, waist deep in the muck and dying from disease and exposure.
The last part describes Belbenoit’s escape and travels through the coasts and jungles of South America, to Central America, and on to the United States.
This book gives a fascinating account of life in French Penal Colony and the author’s escape. A great adventure book.
April 21, 2011
Wonderful, honest view of the same subject matter as Charriere's Papillon.I give him extra marks for not claiming he didn't do it.
September 3, 2022
What an adventure story and all true. Written in 1938 by Rene who escaped from Devils Island where he was imprisoned for theft. It was a brutal existence. He tried to escape several times and was punished by solitary confinement. An amazing story. The only thing I found difficult to believe was that through his escapes he toted around this 30 pound manuscript he had written, wrapped in oil skin, and it survived. That would have been in the ocean, trudging along on foot etc.
September 30, 2022
My dad gave me this book years ago and I finally read it. The 1938 ed. in hard cover. An awesome story that is basically the facts of what it was like living through imprisonment and escape from the pits of hell. Just unbelievable. Don't waste your time on Papillon - this guy was the real deal.
October 25, 2007
The narrative is straight forward and at times a little dated, but by and large very descriptive and captivating. Expect no irony here, Shropshire Lads, these men escape and fail and try again. I haven't seen any popular culture on Devil's Island but I hear there's a Steve McQueen out there. The first twenty pages presents us with a young boy getting buggered and taken as a sweetheart and then getting killed. One of the few good books I've ever found at Kaldi's.
February 14, 2009
This book is the unknown "Papillon". It is the first-hand accounting of a prisoner in French Guyana. I've read it twice and will most likely read it again. I read it first as a middle school student and later as an adult. Very interesting story and well-written.
August 15, 2008
gives a good view of the conditions of the time/place. less of "a tale well told" than papillon.
August 20, 2011
While reading this novel I felt pity and compassion to Rene Belbenoit, an extreme life that he had been through. He had a ferocious chance of destiny. But he never give up his dream.
February 13, 2024
Este libro muestra la cruda realidad que los prisioneros de la Guayana Francesa sufrieron durante muchos años. Torturas, humillaciones, vejaciones y todo lo que no se pueda llegar a imaginar una persona. Con este libro te das cuenta hasta el punto que puede llegar un humano y luchar por ser libre, a pesar de que nada ni nadie se lo ponga lo más mínimamente sencillo.
Traducción de 10, el escrito es perfecto y te absorbe capítulo a capítulo. 100% recomendado
Traducción de 10, el escrito es perfecto y te absorbe capítulo a capítulo. 100% recomendado
September 17, 2020
Dry Guillotine is by far one of the most daring adventure books I have ever read. It tells the story of Rene Belbenoit, a petty thief who ends up on penal colony of French Guinea. It offers most brutal and honest depiction of survival on worst conditions on earth for a criminals and ways to escape the colony wich Belbenoit tried several times. Dry Guillotine will give you chills of the lifetime!
October 23, 2023
J'ai adoré ce livre qui m'a été conseillé par un ami. Il est dur de se dire qu'il s'agit de réalité et non de fiction à tellement il est passionnant de découvrir la vie et les anecdotes de René Belbenoit. C'est tout aussi effrayant que divertissant que de découvrir la guillotine sèche, la mort lente et inévitable de ceux qui étaient envoyés au bagne loin de toute civilisation.
July 18, 2017
Blown away that a 60 year old book filled with French phrases about life in penal colonies would be fire.
August 3, 2020
Excellent true adventure story. The edition I read was copyright 1938, published 1940, still with a paper dust cover, though hanging by shreds. Original translation from the French by Preston Rambo.
February 1, 2023
Harrowing.
August 3, 2023
Poor guy. Wonder what happened to his family.
January 17, 2023
Az Ördög-sziget neve ismert volt számomra… és a könyvnek hála kiderült, hogy amit tudtam, rosszul tudtam. (Évekig abban a tudatban éltem, hogy Ausztráliára használták… hát nem. Ezúttal is tanultam valamit! Yeeey!) A Pillangót nem olvastam, így számomra ez az első könyv a témában, ami valamilyen furcsa módon nagyon is megfogott.
Nagyon érdekes volt és tetszett. Valahol a szívembe is zártam Belbenoit, már csak az akaratereje és kitartása miatt is.
Az egész könyv stílusa és nyelvezete könnyed, olvasmányos. Korrekt a magyarázatok terén, és – szerintem – egyáltalán nem unalmas. Valami mindig történik… de ettől függetlenül is, van egy kellemes üteme, ami vissza-vissza hívja az olvasót és a figyelmét egyaránt. – Magam sem gondoltam volna az elején, hogy ennyire érdekes és kellemesen olvasható lesz.
Teljes respect jár neki (Belbenoit-nak) mindazért, amit elszenvedett, habár tény, hogy rászolgált a büntetésre; de nagyon nem erre a fajtára.
Ez a könyv abszolút megbizgerálta az elmém olyan kontextusban, hogy franciák is rendesen kegyetlenkedtek a sajátjaikkal, ill. a gyarmatikról “szerzett” lelkekkel. Valahol örvendek annak is, hogy akármennyire is igyekeztek leplezni szörnyű tetteiket, mulasztásaikat, szerencsére nem sikerült. (Nem mellesleg Blalir Niles-nak is utána néztem… ill. Siadous-nak is, de róla sajnos nem találam „semmit”.)
Kíváncsi lennék Belbenoit további kalandjaira az USA-ban. Biztos abban is akadt érdekesség. Aki esetleg tud valamit ajánlani a témában, ne fogja vissza magát. Az biztos, hogy a Papillon is felkerült a listámra.
Nagyon érdekes volt és tetszett. Valahol a szívembe is zártam Belbenoit, már csak az akaratereje és kitartása miatt is.
Az egész könyv stílusa és nyelvezete könnyed, olvasmányos. Korrekt a magyarázatok terén, és – szerintem – egyáltalán nem unalmas. Valami mindig történik… de ettől függetlenül is, van egy kellemes üteme, ami vissza-vissza hívja az olvasót és a figyelmét egyaránt. – Magam sem gondoltam volna az elején, hogy ennyire érdekes és kellemesen olvasható lesz.
Teljes respect jár neki (Belbenoit-nak) mindazért, amit elszenvedett, habár tény, hogy rászolgált a büntetésre; de nagyon nem erre a fajtára.
Ez a könyv abszolút megbizgerálta az elmém olyan kontextusban, hogy franciák is rendesen kegyetlenkedtek a sajátjaikkal, ill. a gyarmatikról “szerzett” lelkekkel. Valahol örvendek annak is, hogy akármennyire is igyekeztek leplezni szörnyű tetteiket, mulasztásaikat, szerencsére nem sikerült. (Nem mellesleg Blalir Niles-nak is utána néztem… ill. Siadous-nak is, de róla sajnos nem találam „semmit”.)
Kíváncsi lennék Belbenoit további kalandjaira az USA-ban. Biztos abban is akadt érdekesség. Aki esetleg tud valamit ajánlani a témában, ne fogja vissza magát. Az biztos, hogy a Papillon is felkerült a listámra.
August 21, 2021
Temmuz ayında okuduğum ve beni en çok etkileyen kitaplardan biri Belbenoit tarafından kaleme alınan ve aslında otobiyografik bir roman olan Kansız Giyotin.
Belbenoit I. Dünya Savaşı'na katılır, 18 yaşında bile değildir savaşa gittiğinde. Savaş biter, anlaşmalar yapılır, ölen ölmüştür zaten, çok da önemli değildir, önemli olan savaş sonucunda kazanılanlardır, devletler mutludur. Belbenoit hastaneye kaldırılır ve orada Renéé'ye aşık olur. Sevdiği kadınla mutlu bir hayat sürmesi için işe girmesi ve para kazanması lazımdır. Ancak bakar ki kazandığı para kendi günlük ihtiyaçlarını bile karşılamaya yetmemektedir. Ve hırsızlık yapar. Ne yapacağını bilemez kaçar ve sığındığı yerde yeniden hırsızlık yapar. Ve elbette sonunda polislere yakalanır ve 8 yıl ceza ile Fransız Guyanası'na gönderilir. Merak etmeyin şimdiye kadar özet geçtiğim bu olaylar sadece kitabın giriş kısmından alıntı. Daha henüz asıl olaya geçiş yapmadık bile.
100 yıl boyunca mahkumların gönderildiği bir sürgün yeri olan Fransız Guyanası'ndan kaçmak için sayısız girişimde bulunur Belbenoit. Diğer pek çok suçlu gibi. Bu suçlular arasında hırsızlık yapanlar da vardır tecavüzcü/istismarcılar da. Guyana kendi içine kapalı bir sistemdir. Kendine has işleyiş ve yönetiliş biçimi olan. Adaletin dağıtıldığı. Yargılandığı. Cezaya çarptırıldığı. Peki buradan kaçmak mümkün müdür? Veya size verilen cezanın sonunda sistemin dışına çıkabilmek?
46635. kürek mahkumu René Belbenoit'nın ağzından Fransız Guyanası ve Şeytan Adası'na dair sarsıcı bir anlatı. Belki sayfaların arasında tanıdık isimlere de rastlamak mümkün olabilir?
Bu kitabı bulabilirseniz okumanızı kesinlikle tavsiye ediyorum.
Herkese iyi okumalar!
Kitaplarla kalın!
Belbenoit I. Dünya Savaşı'na katılır, 18 yaşında bile değildir savaşa gittiğinde. Savaş biter, anlaşmalar yapılır, ölen ölmüştür zaten, çok da önemli değildir, önemli olan savaş sonucunda kazanılanlardır, devletler mutludur. Belbenoit hastaneye kaldırılır ve orada Renéé'ye aşık olur. Sevdiği kadınla mutlu bir hayat sürmesi için işe girmesi ve para kazanması lazımdır. Ancak bakar ki kazandığı para kendi günlük ihtiyaçlarını bile karşılamaya yetmemektedir. Ve hırsızlık yapar. Ne yapacağını bilemez kaçar ve sığındığı yerde yeniden hırsızlık yapar. Ve elbette sonunda polislere yakalanır ve 8 yıl ceza ile Fransız Guyanası'na gönderilir. Merak etmeyin şimdiye kadar özet geçtiğim bu olaylar sadece kitabın giriş kısmından alıntı. Daha henüz asıl olaya geçiş yapmadık bile.
100 yıl boyunca mahkumların gönderildiği bir sürgün yeri olan Fransız Guyanası'ndan kaçmak için sayısız girişimde bulunur Belbenoit. Diğer pek çok suçlu gibi. Bu suçlular arasında hırsızlık yapanlar da vardır tecavüzcü/istismarcılar da. Guyana kendi içine kapalı bir sistemdir. Kendine has işleyiş ve yönetiliş biçimi olan. Adaletin dağıtıldığı. Yargılandığı. Cezaya çarptırıldığı. Peki buradan kaçmak mümkün müdür? Veya size verilen cezanın sonunda sistemin dışına çıkabilmek?
46635. kürek mahkumu René Belbenoit'nın ağzından Fransız Guyanası ve Şeytan Adası'na dair sarsıcı bir anlatı. Belki sayfaların arasında tanıdık isimlere de rastlamak mümkün olabilir?
Bu kitabı bulabilirseniz okumanızı kesinlikle tavsiye ediyorum.
Herkese iyi okumalar!
Kitaplarla kalın!
May 7, 2020
En 1922, René Belbenoit est condamné à 8 ans de bagne en Guyane pour un petit larcin. Comme de nombreux prisonniers, il tentera maintes fois de s'échapper dans les méandres de la jungle. Récit d'évasion, on découvre les conditions d'incarcération inhumaines de l'époque et toute la détermination de cet homme dans cet enfer.
September 24, 2022
Lo he pasado fatal con ésta historia. Mucho peor que con las historias del holocausto nazi.
Triste pero real.
Triste pero real.
June 4, 2020
Sin palabras.
Cualquier hombre que haya sobrevivido 15 años en el penal de Cayena y que haya sido capaz de forjarse la libertad a punta de esfuerzo y la gran motivación de querer vivir, merece todo mi respeto.
Tuviste unas agallas enormes, Belbenoit.
Cualquier hombre que haya sobrevivido 15 años en el penal de Cayena y que haya sido capaz de forjarse la libertad a punta de esfuerzo y la gran motivación de querer vivir, merece todo mi respeto.
Tuviste unas agallas enormes, Belbenoit.
Repetiré una vez más que significa ser un libéré en la Guayana Francesa. Significa que uno ha cumplido su periodo de condena. Uno ha estado en las prisiones por la sentencia impuesta. Uno la estado prisionero tres, cinco o diez años en el Campamento de la Muerte o en la Barraca Roja o en las oscuras celdas y ahora, aún vivo, uno está libre. Pero libre tan sólo de permanecer en la Guayana. No libre de ir a donde uno quiera, para comenzar nuevamente una existencia humana, para ver a los amigos, para empezar desde el principio a construir algo a partir del naufragio. No libre para salir del fango y la ignominia y comenzar una nueva vida. Libre sólo de las celdas, de los campamentos de castigos, de las deplorables barracas. Libre para vivir en la Guayana... ¡dónde no hay medios de vida!
Un hombre no puede trepar a los arboles como los perezosos y vivir de hojas. No puede volar sobre la selva como los loros y alimentarse con nueces. No puede nadar en los fangosos ríos como los peces y vivir de hierbas y moluscos. El hombre no tiene pelambre ni plumas; tiene que ponerse ropas.
El hombre necesita un trabajo diario, algún tipo de tarea por la que se le pague en efectivo. Pero en toda la Guayana no hay medio alguno para que un libéré se gane honestamente su jornal.
René Belbenoit sobre la vida de un liberé en la Guayana.
September 23, 2024
I agree with the other reviewer who says Belbenoit is the real deal. Yes Papillon got the hype, but maybe it'd be best to start here. But go ahead and buy this trio of Papillon, Banco, ( Charriere ) and Dry Guillotine and prepare for a solid trifecta of above-average reading. These 3 are really hard to put down !
December 11, 2015
Dry Guillotine provides an insight into the hellish prison system of French Guiana, where it's every man for himself. Belbenoit exposes many of the undercover workings and scandals surrounding the penal colony, but justice is rarely served, especially in this book.
It is an eye-opening experience to read about the conditions men have to endure here, and how they must adapt and try to survive: many don't. Belbenoit also doesn't fail to mention that many of the criminals incarcerated in the colony were petty criminals - people who were timid and unsuited for hard labour and inhuman treatment - who turned into notorious criminals only due to the harshness of the system.
When you treat men like animals, can you really be surprised when they act like animals?
It is an eye-opening experience to read about the conditions men have to endure here, and how they must adapt and try to survive: many don't. Belbenoit also doesn't fail to mention that many of the criminals incarcerated in the colony were petty criminals - people who were timid and unsuited for hard labour and inhuman treatment - who turned into notorious criminals only due to the harshness of the system.
When you treat men like animals, can you really be surprised when they act like animals?
July 20, 2015
The terrifying, shocking, and above all a true story of a man who survived the hell of the prison colony of French Guyana. This book is the definition of hope that never fades and disappears in spite of so many unsuccessful attempts to escape.
Inhuman conditions, the horrible fate of many prisoners, relationship between prisoners and guards and other people in the colony causes disbelief that something like this could exist at all.
This is true, but a lot crueler Shawshank.
Inhuman conditions, the horrible fate of many prisoners, relationship between prisoners and guards and other people in the colony causes disbelief that something like this could exist at all.
This is true, but a lot crueler Shawshank.
August 1, 2016
C’est une bonne description du bagne de Cayenne et des conditions épouvantables dans lesquelles vivaient les forçats. La version française est probablement une traduction de ce qui a été publié aux USA. Mais le style est tellement plat et désuet que le livre en devient terriblement médiocre ; c’est un documentaire ennuyeux écrit par un journaliste sans talent. Le livre d’Henri Charrière était probablement moins proche de la réalité mais beaucoup plus plaisant à lire.
December 5, 2013
Estremecedora historia del verdadero 'Papillon'. Constancia y voluntad para lograr escapar de la más terrible de las prisiones. Bien relatado y apasionante por su contenido. Muy recomedable.
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