The French Foreign Legion–mysterious, romantic, deadly–is filled with men of dubious character, and hardly the place for a proper Englishman just nineteen years of age. Yet in 1960, Simon Murray traveled alone to Paris, Marseilles, and ultimately Algeria to fulfill the toughest contract of his life: a five-year stint in the Legion. Along the way, he kept a diary. Legionnaire is a compelling, firsthand account of Murray’s experience with this legendary band of soldiers. This gripping journal offers stark evidence that the Legion’s reputation for pushing men to their breaking points and beyond is well deserved. In the fierce, sun-baked North African desert, strong men cracked under brutal officers, merciless training methods, and barbarous punishments. Yet Murray survived, even thrived. For he shared one trait with these hard men from all nations and backgrounds: a determination never to surrender.
Paul Skellett Book order (chronological)




London Life
- 176 pages
- 7 hours of reading
While many publications claim to have captured the phenomenon that was Swinging London, only one magazine was present to illustrate this extraordinary moment as it unravelled. London Life remains the coolest document from the capital's most exciting period.
She's a Rainbow
- 320 pages
- 12 hours of reading
She's a Rainbow delves deep into Anita's fascinating and moving story for the first time ever.
The Beatles
- 118 pages
- 5 hours of reading
An important collection of what many believe to be the best colour photographs of the Beatles.