Legionario - La mia vita nella legione straniera

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

252 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.

[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

[Bobby24 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good worth a read, but its not Simon Murray territory.


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

[Irena Dzisiewska · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably a 2.8. Interesting insight

[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