Book description
The French Foreign Legion has a reputation as the most formidable of
military institutions. Created as a means of absorbing foreign
troublemakers, the unit spearheaded French colonialism in North Africa
during the nineteenth century. Accepting volunteers from all parts of
the world, the Legion acquired an aura of mystery - and a less than
enviable reputation for brutality within its ranks.
Voices of the Foreign Legion looks at how the Legion selects
its recruits, where they come from and why they seek a life of
hardship and danger. It also analyses the outfit's 'robust' attitude
to discipline, questions why desertion is a perennial problem and
assesses the Legion's military achievements since its formation in 1831.
This is the real story of the Legion, featuring first-hand accounts
from the men who have fought in its ranks. Its scope ranges from the
conquest of the colonies in Africa and the Far East, through the
horrors of the two World Wars, to the bitter but ultimately hopeless
battles to maintain France's imperial possessions. The story is
brought fully up to date with accounts and anecdotes from those
foreign legionnaires who continue to fight for French interests around
the globe.
Adrian Gilbert is a writer and editorial consultant specialising in
military and historical subjects. He has contributed to several military
TV documentaries and written for a variety of publications including
The Good Book Guide
,
Gramophone
,
Time Out
and
The Guardian
.
