Devil’s Island Prison - Infamous Island of Misery

→ Subscribe for new videos two times per week.

This video is #sponsored by Squarespace.

Love content? Check out Simon's other YouTube Channels:

[Lady_Asylum]

Usually, I get annoyed by Youtubers having 57 channels, Simon is the exception. I love all the content, appreciate your obvious respect for your writers, and your narration is excellent. Honestly, you could read the nutrition facts on items in your fridge, and I'd listen to it

[agactual]

My day isn't complete until I've had a Square Space ad followed by details of a horrific crime against humanity.

[Treetopflyer]

I lived in Cayenne. I’ve been to iles du salut many times. I believe many of the inhabitants of French Guiana are descendants of the prisoners.
It’s true “papillon” was never there. It’s commonly known in the area.
The islands are quite a nice spot to go to now. You can stay overnight if you wish. There’s a population of deer as well that are completely tame having been around humans on the islands for generations.
It’s a very cool place. Worth a visit.

[Hammerhead]

"The light that fills my lonely cell,
Is blocked out by the key,
That locks the door to this hell,
The place they wanted me.
Time's racing like the wind,
Execution's near.
Oh Lord, I wait for death,
And yes, I have no fear."
~Megadeth (Devil's Island)

[BFSilenceDogood]

Watch the 1973 film, Papillon starring Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman.

[BFMandCProductions]

This is fascinating. We learned about the Dreyfus Affair in school but only that he was in French Guiana, nothing more about the island. Great video.

[als]

If I remember a tale from the prison, some of those to be punished by the guillotine were able to return alive because the humidity and wear and tear of a tropical environment blunted the execution device. One man was beheaded and found that while it created a very nasty gash on the back of hs neck he survived. They gave him a reprieve because of it and he lived.

[gibbsy]

Thank you for this video. My second great grandfather was sentenced to 5 years hard labor in Cayenne in 1854 for the crime of stealing food (3rd offense). Miraculously he survived and moved to the US where my great grandfather would be born. My second great grandfather would then be murdered in Illinois in 1885. His release documents from the penal colony describe him as "Strongly Constituted" which I think is quite obvious due to his survival in the early days of the colony. His name was Norbert Bohl, born February 2nd 1827.

[Hasakadragon]

Papillon - in french is saud as papiyon (with a soft n) in english is papeeyon (with a harder n). It means butterfly.

[sydhenderson]

If I remember correctly, Ile de Diable gets its name from the treacherous waters around it, not because conditions on the Ile were so bad, although the guards would still have been abusive. Would have been awfully lonely for the prisoners but not as fatal as in the mainland colony.

[TFrills]

Papillon is the best book I've ever read. Best part? Little to no romance.

[steelfabric]

Henri, you lied to me. I trusted your book, Papillon, as a true account. Damn. I've been fooled all these years. Nearly 50. It was a good read, though. I read Banco, too, but that didn't leave any lasting impression on me. But, Papillon, you bastard.

[skyden]

Part of the storyline of the 1944, Humphrey Bogart film, "Passage to Marisella, " involves a plot to help several prisoners on "Devil's Island" escape in order to join the fight against Nazi Germany at the beginning of WWII. The escaping prisoners eventually to become a part of the "Free France" military force.
-It's a good movie and does a great job of showcasing not only the horrors of being imprisoned at the penal colony, but also the perceivably impossible task of escape. 😉

[stuartliddle]

Have read Pappilon many times through my life. Yes, Henri Charriere may have elaborated much of his exploits, it is a good read.

[robertfolkner]

There was one inmate whom the guards called “An hysterique of the dark cell.” Every time he was about to finish his most recent spell of solitary confinement he would spit on the guards, curse France and much more. His favorite phrase was “Another punishment, if you please!”

He survived his imprisonment and was among the mass repatriation to France. An acquaintance said that he soon grew morose and depressed. After 3 months he committed suicide. It was said of him that he could survive French Guiana, but he could not survive freedom.

[darthmalgus]

12:09, I don't think the Dreyfus Affair happened in 1984...

[thecitizen]

England had the Fatal Shore (Australia), the French had Devils Island and the United States has Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, penal colony.

[maximilianogarciachirinos]

The author of Papillon lived in Venezuela and owned a brothel, he actually got his hand of the manuscript that will later be the book from a guerilla fighter back in the 60s. Thankl ou for acknowledging that he never was a prisoner.

[billkrouse]

The island shown at 10:50 is Devil's Islane in the Apostle Islands in Wisconsin. Dangerous waters at tines, but decidedly NOT shark-infested!

[pauld.b]

Hey Simon, do a video on Juan Bautista De Anza and his expedition exploring the west coast. Nobody has done a decent video on it, you could even make it 2 parts. Or a separate Geographics and Biographics videos.