The gripping true story of the French Foreign Legion in the Sahara.
Ever since the 1920s the popular legend of the French Foreign Legion has
been formed by P.C. Wren's novel BEAU GESTE - a world of remote forts,
warrior tribes, and desperate men of all nationalities enlisting under
pseudonyms to fight and die under the desert sun.
As with all clichés, the reality is far richer and more surprising than
this. In this book Martin Windrow describes desert battles and famous
last stands in gripping detail - but he also shows exactly what the
Foreign Legion were doing in North Africa in the first place. He
explains how French colonial methods there actually had their roots in
the jungles of Vietnam, and how the political pressures that kept the
empire expanding can be traced to battles on the streets of Paris
itself. His description of the Berber tribesmen of Morocco also reveals
some disturbing modern parallels: the formidable guerrillas of the 1920s
were inspired by an Islamic fundamentalist who was adept at using the
world's media to further his cause.
Martin Windrow's previous book THE LAST VALLEY received fabulous reviews
across the English-speaking world. This unique book, which is the first
to examine the 'golden age' of the Foreign Legion has followed suit.
