Papillon, the English edition, is a gripping memoir by Henri Charrière, published in 1969, which immediately caused a stir. The book tells the compelling story of Charrière's life in brutal penal colonies, his daring escape attempts, and his adventurous experiences on the shark-infested open sea. Wrongfully convicted of murder, Charrière is banished to French Guiana, where he makes his first escape attempt after just 42 days. Despite multiple returns and years of imprisonment, his indomitable spirit remains relentless. Over a period of thirteen years, he undertakes a total of nine spectacular escapes, including from the notorious penal colony on Devil's Island. This edition of Papillon also includes an exclusive new essay by Howard Marks that complements and deepens the narrative.