The French Foreign Legion has gained a reputation as one of the most formidable of military institutions. Accepting volunteers from all parts of the globe, the Legion has acquired an aura of mystery – and a less than enviable reputation for brutality within its ranks. Voices of the Foreign Legion considers how recruits are selected and trained, where they come from and why they seek a life of hardship and danger.

This is the real story of the Legion, featuring many, superb first-hand narratives from the men who have served in its ranks. It ranges from the conquest of France’s colonies in Africa and the Far East, through the horror of the two world wars to the bitter but ultimately doomed battles to maintain France’s imperial possessions. The story in brought up to date with accounts and anecdotes from those legionnaires who continue to fight for French interests around the world.