The french foreign legion presented by simon murray most legionnaires have nothing to lose and life itself is not held very dear. May 30, 2006 simon murray gives a great accounts of what legionnaire life was like, both good and awful. Joining the legion as a young man inspired by the romantic myths of beau geste, simon found himself in the ranks of one of the worlds greatest and toughest fighting forces. The sahara, not sandhurst, prepared simon murray for life as a hong. May 30, 2006 yet in 1960, simon murray traveled alone to paris, marseilles, and ultimately algeria to fulfill the toughest contract of his life. Simon murray wrote the benchmark of legionnaire memoirs in this book. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. These guys were supposed to be the hardest of the hardcore. The french foreign legion presented by simon murray youtube. Simon murray, cbe born 25 march 1940 is a hong kongbased british businessman, adventurer, author, and former french foreign legionnaire. The paperback edition was published 2 years later in 1980, and with a slightly different name legionnaire. Army times embodies an experience that many have enjoyed in fa. Simon murray gives a great accounts of what legionnaire life was like, both good and awful. It gives a gritty real life account of the legion and the type of men who join this organisation.
The recruiting officer tried to talk him out of it. And later, based on his book he produced the autobiographical. Inspired by the romantic myths of beau geste, he found himself in the ranks of one of the. Simon murray great britain although simon murray is a multimillionaire businessman, his early years were as unconventional as it gets. He was the oldest man to reach the south pole unsupported, at the age of 63. The real life story of an englishman in the french. To desert would have been easy but to stay says alot about a.
And later, based on his book he produced the autobiographical movie deserter which only came as a dvd. Simon murray has 19 books on goodreads with 1518 ratings. Haviing been a soldier in the us army if i went through that i would have cracked. Legionnaire is a compelling, firsthand account of murray s experience with this legendary band of soldiers. The real life story of an englishman in the french foreign legion reprints by murray, simon isbn. As a teenager, nursing a broken heart and determined to prove himself, he joined the french foreign legion. Legionnaire by simon murray overdrive rakuten overdrive. Simon murray, cbe born 25 march 1940 is a hong kongbased british businessman. Jan 01, 1978 i had seen a passing reference to the legion in another book something along the lines of a legionnaire will drop dead before he stops marching. I hadnt told anyone the english army turned me down. Five years in the french foreign legion a pleasure to read and nearly impossible to put down. Read legionnaire five years in the french foreign legion by simon murray available from rakuten kobo. Simon murray born march 25, 1940, chinese business.
Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers. French foreign legion and simon murray a book of untold stories. Five years in the french foreign legion by simon murray 2006, paperback at the best online prices at ebay. May 17, 2016 simon murray used his 60 minutes to talk about his experiences in china and his 51 years in hong kong as well as the changing relationships in global politics, nuclear proliferation, economics and. An enthusiastic jetsetter, murray has homes in the dordogne, somerset, klosters, phuket, hong kong and london. I joined the legion to prove my love the sahara, not sandhurst, prepared simon murray for life as a hong kong taipan and financial wizard, finds cassandra jardine. Of the dozen of so books ive read about the legion, this ranked among my favorites.
Oct 17, 2014 simon murray was trekking in the aures, a rugged mountain range in northeastern algeria, a few years ago with friends, a local guide and a cook, when they were stopped by the military police. Legionnaire is a compelling, firsthand account of murrays experience with this legendary band of soldiers. Simon murray footballer born 1992, scottish footballer disambiguation page providing links to topics that could be referred to by the same search term this disambiguation page lists articles about people with the same name. Aug 20, 2012 in 1978, at the age of 38, simon murray published his first book legionnaire. The real life story of an englishman in the french foreign legion by simon murray and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Legionnaire september 19, 2015 october 25, 2017 quintus curtius biography, history algerian war of independence, french foreign legion, simon murray i have recently finished reading simon murrays memoir of his life in the french foreign legion, which is titled simply legionnaire. He has longstanding business relationships throughout asia and europe, and has been a senior advisor to lightbridge corporation since 2006. Five years in the french foreign legion 9780891418870.
Yet in 1960, simon murray traveled alone to paris, marseilles, and ultimately algeria to fulfill the toughest contract of his life. Simon murray used his 60 minutes to talk about his experiences in china and his 51 years in hong kong as well as the changing relationships in global politics, nuclear proliferation, economics and. A pleasure to read and nearly impossible to put down. The story of simon murrays odessy in the french foreign legion is in itself a coherent commentary on the experience of transforming the new, young recruit from romantic dreamer into a hardened killing machine, directable by military superiors to obey without question.
I think its clear that he set the bar and established a large part of the myth and legend surrounding the modern ffl. Simon murray was nineteen when he joined the french foreign legion. Five years in the french foreign legion 9780891418870 by murray, simon and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. My five years in the french foreign legion simon murray was nineteen when he joined the french forei. On leaving the foreign legion in 1965, he got married and moved to hong kong where he worked for jardine matheson for fourteen years.
The seminal book by an englishman who ran off to join the legion, murray served through a very difficult period on legion history. In 1978, at the age of 38, simon murray published his first book legionnaire. The real life story of an englishman in the french foreign legion. Fighting in the algerian war, he risked his life many times over.
Five years in the french foreign legion by simon murray online at alibris. This book relates to the life of simon murray as a legionnaire during the algeria conflict. Legionnaire is a compelling, firsthand account of murrays experience with this legendary band of. This has to be one of the best books around on life in the foreign legion, if one wants to learn about their life style then start with this book. Jul 06, 2001 this book was so good i didnt want it to end. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. Much respect to any man that fulfilled his 5 year service.
First published in 1978, simon murrays extraordinary account of a military comingofage is an international bestseller. He wrote of his experiences in the legion in the book legionnaire, published in 1978. Sign up for news about books, authors, and more from penguin random house. Simon murrays personal account of a gently reared, welleducated british youths coming of age in the french foreign legion has the drama, excitement and colour of a good gutsandglory thriller.
Simon, an english legionnaire alternating between gorgeous imagery and scenes of devastating brutality, simon, an english legionnaire details the comingofage of a young englishman during the. May 06, 2011 80s tv documentary presented by simon murray the author of legionaire 80s tv documentary presented by simon murray the author of legionaire. The real life story of an englishman in the french foreign legion reprints by simon murray isbn. At 19, in 1960, englishman simon murray joined the french foreign legionhed read wrens beau geste and held the traditional english view that service in foreign armies in foreign lands was an acceptable way to begin life. Legionnaire by murray, simon and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Five years in the french foreign legion reprint by murray, simon isbn. His bestselling book legionnaire, is as gutsy and gory a thriller as you could hope to read, and one that shows murray is not a man to mess with. Legionnaire by simon murray, 9780891418870, download free ebooks, download free pdf epub ebook. Five years in the french foreign legion by simon murray 2006, paperback at the best online prices at. In this book i have extracted from those diaries what might be of interest and left out, i hope, much of the boredom. My five years in the french foreign legion about his adventure at the one of the worlds great fighting forces. He serves as director, chairman, and advisor of major multinational companies. After that, he left to start his own company, davenham investments, a project advisory company. I had seen a passing reference to the legion in another book something along the lines of a legionnaire will drop dead before he stops marching.
749 225 137 776 810 665 1381 186 319 569 474 661 1036 220 167 361 1018 1489 745 1062 156 1007 1473 291 1012 1510 1309 1015 607 675 605 1217 875 1141