Banco (novel)
![]() First English edition | |
Author | Henri Charrière |
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Translator | Patrick O'Brian |
Country | France |
Language | French |
Series | Papillon |
Genre | Autobiography |
Publisher | Hart-Davis |
Publication date | 1973 |
Preceded by | Papillon |
Followed by | Magnificent Rebel |
Banco is a 1973 autobiography by Henri Charrière, it is a sequel to his previous novel Papillon. It documents Charrière's life in Venezuela, where he arrived after his escape from the penal colony on Devil's Island.
Like its predecessor, ″Banco″ is purportedly an autobiography, unlike ″Papillon″ however, the details have not been as vehemently discredited. Continuing on from Papillon, Banco tells of Henri's life in Venezuela attempting to gain funds to seek revenge for his false imprisonment and to see his father. After many enterprises failed to net profits (including diamond mining, a bank robbery and a jewelry heist) Henri found success in Venezuela running various restaurants. Parts of the book talk in more detail about the crime he committed in France, his arrest, his trial and his views on French justice in the matter. Toward the end of the book, he returns to France a free man.