The Naked Soldier: A True Story of the French Foreign Legion

by Tony Sloane

This powerful look at the French Foreign Legion explores the authors' experiences with the brutalities, adventure, destruction, danger, and criminal encounters over his five years of service in this dehumanizing regime. Well known as the most notorious, bloody, and ruthless band of mercenaries in the world, in 1998 the Legion accepted Tony Sloane at the age of 18, inviting him as an elite member of this secret and mysterious fighting force. The legend and the myths of the Legion captivated Sloane and he quickly learned that life as a legionnaire was not just about physical training, but also about pledging mind and soul to the missions and operations.

Genres: Military Fiction, War, Nonfiction, France

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Oliver · Rating 2 out of 5]

A no hold barred account of five years in the French Foreign Legion. Full of beatings, beastings, drunken violence, whoring and forced marches. Interesting for some of the accounts of the rigours of the life but short on analysis and history. Former Soldiers aren't always the most skilled at self expression and unfortunately Sloane rather proves the rule, which is a shame because there's some hints at a lot of really interesting psychological stuff here - but it never gets properly developed.

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great autobiography. I had no idea the Foreign Legion was that brutal. His sense of adventure will pull you in. While reading it you wonder if he's growing up fast or losing his mind. I think a good soldier is a delicate balance of the two.

[Mark Pobar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Most men who have heard of the Legion and its soldiers, knowing that it is a haven for misfits and the life is hard. Most would also wonder if they have the "right stuff" to make it through and become a legionnaire. This story is one of someone who made it through, loyalty among men with little else in life, and the brutality that can be normalised through repetition.

The author is at least introspective and acknowledges his feeling superior to others and truly believing everyone else is below a legionnaire. As such his antics in other countries and in public back home are really those of an immature boy who has no real consequences to his actions, he dismisses his lucky escapes to being invincible. Even as a mature man writing his biography he feels the need to glorify his exploits at that time which still seems immature.
Armies take boys, strip them of their identity and shape them back as a team that would not let their team mates down. Every army is the same and the legionnaire is no different, so that part of the story is unremarkable.
The ability to work well with little to no sleep is also a myth, I am sure at the time it seemed good but how could a soldier operate well when hallucinating from dehydration or fatigue. He can't, but I guess the author felt he did.
Anyway, an interesting read but full of false bravado that does not impress like the author thought it would.

[David Mladenovski]

Very interesting testimony describing the brutality and the rudeness that are present in the French Foreign Legion, but there are also good storie about the friendship and the sacrifices that soldiers need to do together

[Hugo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little vulgar for the common people, but was a good read for me. Authentic & truthful to his beliefs, this book is a good way of learning more about what happens in the head of the common FFL soldier.

[Irena Dzisiewska · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably a 2.8. Interesting insight

[Bobby24 · Rating 4 out of 5]

i recently re read this book and it is a book that grows with each reading i am five years younger than him and also English i also read Simon Murrays book and A mouthful of Rocks as a young guy, i look at my life now and wish i had gone to France at 18 or 19 years old...could've should've would've.


Good worth a read.


As an aside its laughable to believe women have any business in a outfit like this.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

True story of a British young guy, who served in French Foreign Legion for 5 years (first period of time you spent in there cause of costs of training). He shows the inside world of the military formation, which training is one of the toughest.

[Hans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fed bog om vejen ind i fremmedlegionen og livet som legionær. Bogen er skrevet af Tony som klarede hele sin kontrakt på 5 år, og ikke som så mange andre bøger skrevet af folk der stak af fra legionen. Bogen beskriver dog ikke om hans deltagelse i kampe eller krige.

[Mark · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting as far as personal account of life in legion's training is concern. Disappointing in that there is no account of actual fighting or combat