Captivity and Escape

"Captivity and Escape" by Jean Martin is a powerful memoir chronicling a French sergeant's harrowing ordeal as a prisoner of war during World War I. The story follows Sergeant Martin's journey from the chaos of the battlefield, where he is wounded and captured by German forces, to the grim realities of a prisoner-of-war camp. Facing immense hardship and brutality, Martin fights to hold onto hope and his sense of self but also describes the kindness and support of other prisoners. The narrative opens with a vivid depiction of Martin's wounding, capturing the terror and confusion of war, before his unexpected rescue and capture. Throughout his imprisonment, Martin grapples with fear, despair, and the ever-present shadow of death, but his enduring spirit and determination to resist dehumanization form the central theme of the book.