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The French Foreign Legion
What attracts men from 136 different nations to embrace the harsh military code of an army that requires them to lay down their lives for a country not their own, if ordered to do so by politicians whose language many of them hardly speak? Douglas Boyd’s history of the Legion answers that question, with fifteen historic photographs and eleven battle/campaign maps. Founded in 1831 to fight France’s colonial wars without spilling French blood, this mysterious army is today a world-class fighting force. Training is so tough that five recruits out of six are rejected, never to wear the coveted white kepi. This is a world where fact exceeds the wildest men fighting literally to the last bullet at Camarón in Mexico in 1863; cooks and clerks with no parachute training volunteering to be dropped into beleaguered Dien Bien Phu in 1954 with the intention of dying beside their comrades; the paras who mutinied in Algeria to bring down the government of France; the heroes who dropped on Kolwezi to rescue thousands of European hostages. Praise for Douglas Boyd 'A tight and fascinating history of the nearly two centuries of the Legion's activities.' - Brig Anthony Hunter-Choat, the UK's senior ex-legionnaire Perhaps the greatest praise of the book is the fact that legionnaires liked this history of their incredible army so much that they elected author Douglas Boyd an honorary ex-legionnaire. RAF Russian linguist, international businessman, music impresario, BBC Television Producer/Director, Douglas Boyd has been writing full-time since setting up home in a medieval farmhouse in south-west France thirty-five years ago. His published fiction and non-fiction, translated into many languages, includes three novels set against a Legion The Eagle and the Snake, The Truth and the Lies, The Honour and the Glory.
550 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
October 14, 2019
Interesting book about the origin of the Foreign Legion and it's history through stories of it's most famous battles. A well researched but, but it is a long and dry read with lot's of historic and political background during the times of the Legion.
February 22, 2019
The French Foreign Legion is one of those organisations that has achieved almost mythical status. This is not accidental. Over the years, it has worked hard to remain secretive and closed to the outside world. From its beginnings, it has been shadowy; taking recruits from virtually anywhere, although some of the wilder legends are probably just that; legends.
Mention the Foreign Legion to most people, and an image will flash into their mind. A dogged soldier, almost certainly running away from his past, in a dark uniform, kepi on his head, linen curtain hanging down over his neck at the back, marching through the deserts of North Africa. Think Beau Geste (or even Carry on, Follow that Camel!). Although this image is partly true, the reality was different for most foreign legionnaires.
The legion was created for a number of reasons, but for good or ill, it has been used over the years to do a lot of work where France was unable or unwilling to use regular forces.
Surprisingly, it is quite difficult to find authoritative books about the legion. A bit like the British SAS, there is a plethora of works purporting to be informed and accurate, but most are either imagined memoirs, or largely fictional boy's own stuff. There are reasons for this. The Legion has a secretive ethos; the silence helps to maintain the myth. There is also the simple fact that the Legion is actually not as special or mythical as many think it is.
This book is a very mixed bag. It is also very hard going. It has a lot of detail; far too much in fact. Campaigns are often described in minute detail, almost platoon by platoon, naming officer replacements, and routes taken, village by village. If you need a reference work about the Legions history and campaigns, then this would be useful.
If you are looking for a readable, general history, then this is not it. The constant stream of units, officers, places and actions becomes tedious and repetitive very quickly. I found myself reading it in very small doses. Each time I tried to continue, I was soon lost in the various units; impossible to remember them all, and, ultimately, unnecessary.
The author has clearly done a huge amount of research, and given that many books on the Legion appear to be re-hashes of other works, that is hugely to his credit. Unfortunately, for me, he has not then asked the right questions. There is little higher level analysis; little thought given to strategic considerations. And no thought at all to the readability of the narrative.
I'm sure there is a good general history of the Foreign Legion out there - or waiting to be written. One that looks at the Legion's place in French history, and at its ethos and myths. But for me, this isn't it.
Mention the Foreign Legion to most people, and an image will flash into their mind. A dogged soldier, almost certainly running away from his past, in a dark uniform, kepi on his head, linen curtain hanging down over his neck at the back, marching through the deserts of North Africa. Think Beau Geste (or even Carry on, Follow that Camel!). Although this image is partly true, the reality was different for most foreign legionnaires.
The legion was created for a number of reasons, but for good or ill, it has been used over the years to do a lot of work where France was unable or unwilling to use regular forces.
Surprisingly, it is quite difficult to find authoritative books about the legion. A bit like the British SAS, there is a plethora of works purporting to be informed and accurate, but most are either imagined memoirs, or largely fictional boy's own stuff. There are reasons for this. The Legion has a secretive ethos; the silence helps to maintain the myth. There is also the simple fact that the Legion is actually not as special or mythical as many think it is.
This book is a very mixed bag. It is also very hard going. It has a lot of detail; far too much in fact. Campaigns are often described in minute detail, almost platoon by platoon, naming officer replacements, and routes taken, village by village. If you need a reference work about the Legions history and campaigns, then this would be useful.
If you are looking for a readable, general history, then this is not it. The constant stream of units, officers, places and actions becomes tedious and repetitive very quickly. I found myself reading it in very small doses. Each time I tried to continue, I was soon lost in the various units; impossible to remember them all, and, ultimately, unnecessary.
The author has clearly done a huge amount of research, and given that many books on the Legion appear to be re-hashes of other works, that is hugely to his credit. Unfortunately, for me, he has not then asked the right questions. There is little higher level analysis; little thought given to strategic considerations. And no thought at all to the readability of the narrative.
I'm sure there is a good general history of the Foreign Legion out there - or waiting to be written. One that looks at the Legion's place in French history, and at its ethos and myths. But for me, this isn't it.
June 15, 2018
Rating: 2 out of 5.
This was a detailed history in many a way, and it is clear that the author is enthusiastic about the Foreign Legions and its engagements throughout the approximately two centuries it has been in existence. Mr Boyd goes starts by throwing the reader into the deep, expecting them to pick up on what was going on in Vietnam before taking a step back and describing the earliest Legion and its gradual development into an Algerian occupying army and from that the other conflicts it has participated in.
I am generally in favour of letting the author decide what sort of a timeline should be followed for a history to come through best, and often one can agree on that the chronological is not the best. This can be due to various reasons, and I would normally expect that the narrative makes it clear why these changes were necessary. Mr Boyd does not follow this approach, and indeed, a lot of what he does remains unclear to me.
This book is very good in highlighting individual Legion conflicts and the sacrifices made in these; however, in general it was also very difficult to recognise an underlying theme between these engagements, even when the author would comment that the reader had met one or other of the soldiers beforehand.
A number of interesting stories are brought forward from many parts of the world, but I find that the overall weakness of this book is the lack of a general narrative to string the story of the Legion into as coherent a narrative as the unit itself is nowadays.
Originally published here.
This was a detailed history in many a way, and it is clear that the author is enthusiastic about the Foreign Legions and its engagements throughout the approximately two centuries it has been in existence. Mr Boyd goes starts by throwing the reader into the deep, expecting them to pick up on what was going on in Vietnam before taking a step back and describing the earliest Legion and its gradual development into an Algerian occupying army and from that the other conflicts it has participated in.
I am generally in favour of letting the author decide what sort of a timeline should be followed for a history to come through best, and often one can agree on that the chronological is not the best. This can be due to various reasons, and I would normally expect that the narrative makes it clear why these changes were necessary. Mr Boyd does not follow this approach, and indeed, a lot of what he does remains unclear to me.
This book is very good in highlighting individual Legion conflicts and the sacrifices made in these; however, in general it was also very difficult to recognise an underlying theme between these engagements, even when the author would comment that the reader had met one or other of the soldiers beforehand.
A number of interesting stories are brought forward from many parts of the world, but I find that the overall weakness of this book is the lack of a general narrative to string the story of the Legion into as coherent a narrative as the unit itself is nowadays.
Originally published here.
September 10, 2017
Excellent book, which not only chronicles the history of the French Foreign Legion but also the history of France. The upheavals of post World War 2 Vietnam and Algiers are particularly well described!
October 28, 2017
It was interesting to learn a little about the French Foreign Legion - it's origin, which is more recent than I had thought, and places it has fought around the world. Heavy on details and dates of specific battles, which wore me down.
September 21, 2022
Excellent history of the formation of the French Foreign Legion from its establishment to its current status. When you are finished with this tome you will know more than you ever imagined about the Legion. A great read full of historical details of battles, personalities, and war stories. A bit tedious to
read in parts but hang in there, you will be glad you did!
read in parts but hang in there, you will be glad you did!
May 13, 2018
Decent
Book would have been better if in chronological order. I have read more engaging histories of the Foreign Legion. Meh.
Book would have been better if in chronological order. I have read more engaging histories of the Foreign Legion. Meh.
August 13, 2020
Or classique
This book to my mind personifies the expression "Lions led by Political Donkeys". Especially the Zaire intervention.
Wonderful story well worth reading.
This book to my mind personifies the expression "Lions led by Political Donkeys". Especially the Zaire intervention.
Wonderful story well worth reading.
February 18, 2021
Good if dry account of this world famous unit.
July 9, 2022
Absolutely exhaustive history of the Legion.
Fascinating and absolute.
Fascinating and absolute.
December 5, 2023
Thrilling
A very detailed but interesting read. A lot of interesting facts about the Legion that are seldom spoken about or, in fact, are acknowledged.
A very detailed but interesting read. A lot of interesting facts about the Legion that are seldom spoken about or, in fact, are acknowledged.
Read
September 29, 2024Really interesting history of this fabled legion and some interesting facts I didn't know about the number of Germans serving post WWII and some atrocities by former SS troops under French Command.
July 14, 2014
Great book really enjoyed it have the utmost respect for the legion as a fighting force!
August 5, 2016
Worth a read for anyone interested in military history.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews