The Escapee From Belle-Île - The Story of a Children's Prison

As heartbreaking as it is moving, this fiction story sheds light on a little-known chapter of French history: penal colonies for children.

 

In 1934, Joseph was sent to the penal colony of Belle-Île (Bretagne). In this penal colony which did not close until 1977, the living conditions were terrible and he was subjected to violence and mistreatment by his guards. He became the whipping boy for one of his fellow inmates. One evening, because he had eaten his cheese before his soup, he incurred the wrath of the guards, who beat him severely.

 

This was one ill-treatment too many: The inmates rebelled, overpowered the guards and escaped. 56 fugitives in one go! The policemen started a search operation, offering a 20-franc reward for each child caught. The island's population then began a merciless hunt for the children... All the boarders were captured.

 

After a descent into the dungeon that gave him a glimpse of hell, Joseph finally saw the light and the hope of a better life...

 

 

IN THE MEDIA

 

"This is a poignant and deeply moving story presented in this beautiful book, half-way between a picture book and a novel. It recounts the ordeals endured by a 14-year-old boy in a reformatory on Belle-Île-en-Mer during the 1930s (...) This book resonates eerily in today’s context, where disturbing cases of child harassment are being uncovered, and proposals to revive punitive institutions resurface in the rhetoric of certain politicians. The book is captivating, not only for its child’s-eye narrative but also for its powerful and evocative illustrations." - Opalivres