Home
cover of episode Papillon: History's Greatest Hoaxes

Papillon: History's Greatest Hoaxes

2024/10/17
logo of podcast Forbidden History

Forbidden History

Chapters

The episode delves into the authenticity of Henri Charrière's memoir 'Papillon,' questioning whether his experiences on Devil's Island were real or fabricated.
  • Papillon was a bestseller in the 1970s, selling 5 million copies.
  • The book sparked curiosity about the penal colonies in French Guiana.
  • People were drawn to the survival story, even if it was embellished.

Shownotes Transcript

Papillon is one of the most popular books and films of the 1970s. It tells the dramatic story of the prison life of Henri Charrière, a convicted murderer with a large butterfly tattoo on his chest. But how much of his story was actually true? Was he ever imprisoned on Devil's Island? Or was it all fiction...?

Cast List:

**Guy Walters: **A British author, historian, and journalist who has written several books on WWII. As a journalist for The Times, he writes on historical topics for the national press.

Alex Boese: Author, The World's Greatest Hoaxes

**Marcus Brigstocke: **Author & Comedian

Vladimir Lozinski: News Producer

**Ronnie: **Local Guide

**Marcus Brigstocke: **Author & Comedian

Jim Haynes: Publisher

**Erwin James: **Ex-Convict & Journalist

Michel Muszlak: Philosopher

**Eric Meyers: **Narrator

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices)