- Paperback: 320 pages
- Publisher: Piatkus Books; New edition edition (22 April 1999)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0749919922
- ISBN-13: 978-0749919924
- Product Dimensions: 19.6 x 13 x 2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,220,798 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Product Description
The French Foreign Legion, founded in 1831, is shrouded in mystery. The brutality of its training regime has been described by deserters, but a different picture emerges from those who stayed and progressed beyond the beatings and the Legion's demands.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book has a remarkably interesting history on the FFL with lots of quotes from British people who served in the Legion, this book is especially good if you own any other book on the ffl talking about modern life in the ffl as you can see how much it has changed over the past 50 years
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I like many others am interested in the French Foreign Legion as an Army in their own right. Most FFL books that I buy are for hard facts about life in the FFL. This book is more a history book with many references to names and backgrounds of soldiers as opposed to the soldiers lives in the Legion. I bought this book after hearing good things about it but after reading halfway through I skipped to the last 2 chapters which covers the modern Legion and did not read any more. If you have read Simon Murrays book on Life in the Legion and this is the sort of thing you are after then dont bothere with this book. It is not for you. If you are after a indepth reference and history book which includes the structure of the legion and not the day to day happenings in the Legion, then you will enjoy it.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4 reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Worth reading if you want to join....
26 Jan 2000
Format: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
Very well balanced - A great place to start
4 Feb 2002
Format: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
Inside Information
9 April 2000
Format: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.
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