6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Worth reading if you want to join...., 26 Jan 2000
By Mikael Timell - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Inside the Foreign Legion: The Sensational Expose of the World's Toughest Army (Hardcover)
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...
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very well balanced - A great place to start, 4 Feb 2002
By Andrew D. Kennedy - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Inside the Foreign Legion: The Sensational Expose of the World's Toughest Army (Paperback)
"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."
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Inside Information, 9 April 2000
By Michael F Strocchi - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Inside the Foreign Legion: The Sensational Expose of the World's Toughest Army (Hardcover)
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.