Title: The French Foreign Legion
Authors: Martin Windrow
Series: 17 of Osprey - Men-At-Arms
ISBN: 9781472806369
Rating: ★★★★
Description:
It is arguable that no group of fighting men in the history of European arms has been so misrepresented by ill-informed publicity as the French Foreign Legion. Though initially conceived in 1831 as a means of drafting recently discharged foreign soldiers to Algeria, the Legion has developed into a sophisticated force of motorized infantry, airborne troops and light armor. In this book, acclaimed French Army expert Martin Windrow examines the history and uniforms of the French Foreign Legion, from its service in the Carlist War of 1835-36 to World War II and beyond, debunking many of the prevalent myths surrounding this formidable force.
Title: A Soldier of the Legion: An Englishman’s Adventures under the French Flag in Algeria and Tonquin
Authors: George Manington
Rating: ★★★★★
Subject: Books.Military.18th-19th Century.Africa.Algeria, Books.Military.18th-19th Century.Asia.French Indochina, Books.Military.18th-19th Century.Europe.France.FFL
Description:
An educated gentleman, Mr Manington has given an insight into the unusual experiences of an Englishman in the French Foreign Legion, such as no ordinary “mercenary” could have done. Most of the narrative deals with Tonquin, and the fighting there against the rebels in their forest fastnesses. Incidentally, in giving an account of his friendship for the native sergeant, Doy-Tho, the author has been able to impart to the pages of the book an Oriental atmosphere that we think will prove attractive to the reader.
My Review:
Such an incredible book! That's literally the feeling I'm left with after reading the last page. While I have read multiple books on the French occupation of Indochina, and especially the fights in the Red River Valley, they were all books written today based on multiple sources and gave one a thousand foot birds eye strategic view of the experience. Manington's first person account, written shortly after his return from Tonkin, is an absolutely incredible primary source material to go beyond that.
As the description details, you not only get to understand what happened, but experience what it was like to live in that climate, to learn about the people and colored prejudices of the author and his experiences with natives and colonials alike, and read his thoughts, feelings, and what stood out to him day in and day out, on the ground and in the mud and in the heat and cold.
Whether it was in battle or in the hospital fighting malaria, he never fails to paint vivid pictures of the experience in a way that brings you right then and there. He doesn't just tell you what happened, but fills each page with a flourish of imagery, thoughts, and emotions, while telling detailed stories of those around him and those who colorful figures he served with.
In addition he has a flair for noting the history of the areas, the people involved, and the political and military aspects going back centuries. This is not a book filled with just random observations, or a diary of what he did that day, but instead you really learn about what Hanoi was like then, from its street names to the layout of the french quarter. He spares no details, but the book never bogs down or becomes unreadable, with good pacing and excitement and information throughout.
Definitely an incredible book.
