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Christian Jennings

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Mouthful of Rocks: Modern Adventures in the French Foreign Legion Paperback – March 1, 1991

by Jennings (Author)

4.2 36 ratings

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Pocket

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Jennings was a 22-year-old delivery boy in London when, in 1984, he joined the legendary Legion. In an hypnotically bland narrative style, he recalls the training, the vicious routine beatings, the boozing and whoring during off-duty hours--and the scathing xenophobic views freely expressed by the various nationalities he soldiered with. Posted to the African Republic of Djibouti, Jennings was mercilessly bullied by his immediate superior, a Spanish corporal, and went over the hill. Captured by bounty hunters while wandering across the desert, he found life in jail preferable to active duty in the 2nd Parachute Regiment. Given a second chance, he accompanied the regiment to France on field maneuvers and took advantage of another opportunity to desert. Successful this time, he was subsequently arrested on forgery charges and served a nine-month sentence. There's nothing self-serving about this memoir: again and again its author casually reveals himself to have been a liar, thief and sexual vulture. The absence of value judgment in his book plus a natural writing talent render it hard to put down. Jennings now works in publishing in London.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

The French Foreign Legion has always had a reputation for toughness and isolation from the ordinary world, with its promise of anonymity for volunteers and much-rumored esprit. Jennings, who joined the legion as escape from failure in the civilian world, tells us in this profane but outstandingly real description of his training and service in both Europe and North Africa. Jennings survived beatings and poor diet; in Djibouti he deserted, only to be captured by local tribesmen. On release from military prison he was rotated back to Corsica for a bizarre stint of drinking and chasing tourists that is described with as much humor as the training had horror. After more training he deserted again, this time back to his native England. A rough and tumble tale that gives serious insight into the mind of the professional soldier.
- Mel D. Lane, Sacramento, Cal.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Pocket; Reprint edition (March 1, 1991)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 256 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0671728016
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0671728014
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 4.8 ounces

Best Sellers Rank: #2,988,020 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #77,137 in Military History (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.2 36 ratings

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4.2 out of 5

36 global ratings

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MSwann

Recommend this book and this seller

Reviewed in the United States on September 29, 2023

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The book was in great shape and arrived quickly. Just as promised.

Reviewed in the United States on March 19, 2010

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You people are all missing the point: Jennings is writing about HIS OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE - none of you were there next to him, therefore, he knows better, doesn't he?
From my days in the army I can quote the saying that the soldier without a daily work is a criminal. Training and maddening menial tasks are required so that the individual gets screwed up mentally beyond the point of no return so that he is almost looking to be unleashed and go to war. Additionally, I know that ANYTHING can happen in the army, and the author is just telling what happened to him. Although a failure, he admits it, but hey, it's always easy to blame others and yak about loyalty to the core or your unit, camaraderie and stuff from your armchair - go do it yourself, tough guy, see how you like it! Few words about desertion: a lot of you admit that you've got to be a little crazy to join, so what's wrong with being a little sane and withdraw? This is your life anyway, right: it is always an individual's decision; if it's clear that the army life is not for you - why suffer 5 full years? Do you people stay loyal to your boss at a job you hate? He was not a solder's material, he was not aware what he had signed up himself for initially, so, instead of getting 5 full years of drinking, beating and degradation he deserted - who are you to judge him?
There's a fine line between staying loyal to your unit, friends and commitment, if it's just a tough going that makes you a better individual and a tougher soldier, but there is a huge difference when you're not getting anywhere and just wasting your life.

And just to reply to some posts I've seen here, like, why not write about the Cameron Battle and glorify it, or, why the ffl does not educate the recruits? Please, people, get real - he did not fight the Cameron battle, why would he want to write about it??? He hasn't seen any glory to begin with! You want glory? - get yourself a copy of Top Gun.
Also if one looks at the success rate of the French army it's easy to understand why FFL does not need well-mannered and well educated intellectuals. Although I do believe there are some in FFL - I also believe they have chosen to blend with the system.

5 people found this helpful

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T.C.

MOUTHFUL OF CROCK

Reviewed in the United States on October 26, 1999

Okay, this book might be telling the truth about the French Foreign Legion but who cares? If you realy want to join the Legion this book would not turn anyone off if they really wanted to join. For all those people who deny that what Christian has wrote is untrue must be on another planet. Of course this stuff happens and not only in the French Foriegn Legion but in Army's all across the world.
The book is very boring to read and the literature is shocking, this book was not planned out and it seems a 10 year old wrote it. The book centres around himself, at one moment he complains about the hard work and then the next he is bored with nothing to do. If people want to know about what military life is really like then read the book, but if you know what happens then don't bother. There are plenty of other execellent books on the foreign legion and this is not one of them.

4 people found this helpful

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Ken Wood

Good 80s legion experience

Reviewed in the United States on March 9, 2021

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This is one of the older books on the Legion going back to the 1980s. From what I have read online, the author seems to exaggerate the amount of beatings and violence for the time period. In addition, the desertion rate would have been much higher if it were true. Jennings had a hard time in England and went to the Legion as a solution and escape from his problems. This often does not work and problems continue. In his case, it was alcoholism. He talks a lot about drinking and getting drunk throughout the book.
I liked the descriptions of personal experiences off base, in deployment and reflections the deployment to Djibouti was a good part. Many Legion books go pages describing training endlessly. This one is better for memoirs, talks about who joins, what it is like and desertions. Most books don’t talk about that much but this one does and he did dessert.
The adjustment to military life didn’t seem to suit him well. That’s a big problem and people don’t know what they are getting into, especially back then before the internet and so many books. This book reminds me of another good one, My Camp, which is more modern. They both show more critical view of the Legion as opposed to the many books that are gung ho.
A lot of people join the military thinking it will solve their problems. The Legion is different because you are leaving your home country, culture and language. That makes it much more difficult for integration of people and therefore much harder training. He’s pretty honest about himself overall and this book is one to read for people interested in the Legion. I have read many now and this one was worthwhile. Just do not spend too much it is not worth more than about $10.
From what I have read, the Legion is a pretty solid military force and better than most European (except the UK) since they do deploy a lot. It can be a good option for people from countries with limited options for military careers.

One person found this helpful

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D. K. Bennett

Just Like I Remembered

Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2020

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No I wasn't in the French Foreign Legion but I did read this book a number of years back and lost track of what I did with the book. After several moves and lots of time I ordered another copy. I re-read it and enjoyed the book just like I did the first time.

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noname

Good, entertaining, humorous, light and easy read

Reviewed in the United States on May 5, 2013

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I thought this was a good, entertaining, humorous, light and easy read. An interesting look at life in the Legion from the bottom up view. Also from the view point of a disgruntled alcoholic petty criminal borderline sociopath, but he made no attempt to hide any of that either. It's interesting that the author managed to put his life together post Legion enough to write a book (at least I saw nothing to indicate a co or ghost author).

One person found this helpful

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Jon G. Merriman

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United States on October 6, 2016

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Fascinating story of Legion Estrange.