Scum of the Earth (book)
Encyclopedia
Scum of the Earth is the title of a book by Arthur Koestler
in which he describes his life in France
during 1939-1940, the chaos that prevailed in France just prior to the outbreak of the Second World War and France’s collapse, his tribulations, internment in a concentration camp, and eventual escape to England
, via North Africa
and Portugal
.
. After retreating to Paris
he was imprisoned by the French as an undesirable alien, even though he had been a respected crusader against fascism. Koestler arrived in England in December 1940, without an entry permit, travelling with a Hungarian
passport. Although he was by then widely known as an anti-fascist he was, nevertheless, imprisoned as an enemy alien while his case was being reviewed by the Home Office
. Ironically, while he was in Pentonville Prison in London, his ultimately most famous and influential book Darkness at Noon was being published in England.
Upon his release in January 1941, he immediately enlisted in the British Army
and over the following three months, while waiting for his call-up papers and army posting, he wrote Scum of the Earth. The book was well received and had glowing reviews.
“A memorable story, vivid, powerful and deeply searching” – The Times Literary Supplement
“This is a book in a thousand, by far the best book to come out of the collapse of France” – The Guardian
“Koestler’s personal history of France at War. It is, I think, the finest book that has come out of that cauldron” – New York Herald Tribune
This was the first book that Koestler wrote in English. In the Preface to the 1955 edition, after explaining the circumstances under which the book was written, he acknowledges the book’s shortcomings:
Scum of the Earth is the title of a book by Arthur Koestler
in which he describes his life in France
during 1939-1940, the chaos that prevailed in France just prior to the outbreak of the Second World War and France’s collapse, his tribulations, internment in a concentration camp, and eventual escape to England
, via North Africa
and Portugal
.
. After retreating to Paris
he was imprisoned by the French as an undesirable alien, even though he had been a respected crusader against fascism. Koestler arrived in England in December 1940, without an entry permit, travelling with a Hungarian
passport. Although he was by then widely known as an anti-fascist he was, nevertheless, imprisoned as an enemy alien while his case was being reviewed by the Home Office
. Ironically, while he was in Pentonville Prison in London, his ultimately most famous and influential book Darkness at Noon was being published in England.
Upon his release in January 1941, he immediately enlisted in the British Army
and over the following three months, while waiting for his call-up papers and army posting, he wrote Scum of the Earth. The book was well received and had glowing reviews.
“A memorable story, vivid, powerful and deeply searching” – The Times Literary Supplement
“This is a book in a thousand, by far the best book to come out of the collapse of France” – The Guardian
“Koestler’s personal history of France at War. It is, I think, the finest book that has come out of that cauldron” – New York Herald Tribune
This was the first book that Koestler wrote in English. In the Preface to the 1955 edition, after explaining the circumstances under which the book was written, he acknowledges the book’s shortcomings:
Scum of the Earth is the title of a book by Arthur Koestler
in which he describes his life in France
during 1939-1940, the chaos that prevailed in France just prior to the outbreak of the Second World War and France’s collapse, his tribulations, internment in a concentration camp, and eventual escape to England
, via North Africa
and Portugal
.
. After retreating to Paris
he was imprisoned by the French as an undesirable alien, even though he had been a respected crusader against fascism. Koestler arrived in England in December 1940, without an entry permit, travelling with a Hungarian
passport. Although he was by then widely known as an anti-fascist he was, nevertheless, imprisoned as an enemy alien while his case was being reviewed by the Home Office
. Ironically, while he was in Pentonville Prison in London, his ultimately most famous and influential book Darkness at Noon was being published in England.
Upon his release in January 1941, he immediately enlisted in the British Army
and over the following three months, while waiting for his call-up papers and army posting, he wrote Scum of the Earth. The book was well received and had glowing reviews.
“A memorable story, vivid, powerful and deeply searching” – The Times Literary Supplement
“This is a book in a thousand, by far the best book to come out of the collapse of France” – The Guardian
“Koestler’s personal history of France at War. It is, I think, the finest book that has come out of that cauldron” – New York Herald Tribune
This was the first book that Koestler wrote in English. In the Preface to the 1955 edition, after explaining the circumstances under which the book was written, he acknowledges the book’s shortcomings:
Arthur Koestler
Arthur Koestler CBE was a Hungarian author and journalist. Koestler was born in Budapest and, apart from his early school years, was educated in Austria...
in which he describes his life in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
during 1939-1940, the chaos that prevailed in France just prior to the outbreak of the Second World War and France’s collapse, his tribulations, internment in a concentration camp, and eventual escape to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, via North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
and Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
.
Background
At the outbreak of the Second World War, Koestler was living in the South of France working on Darkness at NoonDarkness at Noon
Darkness at Noon is a novel by the Hungarian-born British novelist Arthur Koestler, first published in 1940...
. After retreating to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
he was imprisoned by the French as an undesirable alien, even though he had been a respected crusader against fascism. Koestler arrived in England in December 1940, without an entry permit, travelling with a Hungarian
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
passport. Although he was by then widely known as an anti-fascist he was, nevertheless, imprisoned as an enemy alien while his case was being reviewed by the Home Office
Home Office
The Home Office is the United Kingdom government department responsible for immigration control, security, and order. As such it is responsible for the police, UK Border Agency, and the Security Service . It is also in charge of government policy on security-related issues such as drugs,...
. Ironically, while he was in Pentonville Prison in London, his ultimately most famous and influential book Darkness at Noon was being published in England.
Upon his release in January 1941, he immediately enlisted in the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
and over the following three months, while waiting for his call-up papers and army posting, he wrote Scum of the Earth. The book was well received and had glowing reviews.
“A memorable story, vivid, powerful and deeply searching” – The Times Literary Supplement
“This is a book in a thousand, by far the best book to come out of the collapse of France” – The Guardian
“Koestler’s personal history of France at War. It is, I think, the finest book that has come out of that cauldron” – New York Herald Tribune
This was the first book that Koestler wrote in English. In the Preface to the 1955 edition, after explaining the circumstances under which the book was written, he acknowledges the book’s shortcomings:
Scum of the Earth is the title of a book by Arthur Koestler
Arthur Koestler
Arthur Koestler CBE was a Hungarian author and journalist. Koestler was born in Budapest and, apart from his early school years, was educated in Austria...
in which he describes his life in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
during 1939-1940, the chaos that prevailed in France just prior to the outbreak of the Second World War and France’s collapse, his tribulations, internment in a concentration camp, and eventual escape to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, via North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
and Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
.
Background
At the outbreak of the Second World War, Koestler was living in the South of France working on Darkness at NoonDarkness at Noon
Darkness at Noon is a novel by the Hungarian-born British novelist Arthur Koestler, first published in 1940...
. After retreating to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
he was imprisoned by the French as an undesirable alien, even though he had been a respected crusader against fascism. Koestler arrived in England in December 1940, without an entry permit, travelling with a Hungarian
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
passport. Although he was by then widely known as an anti-fascist he was, nevertheless, imprisoned as an enemy alien while his case was being reviewed by the Home Office
Home Office
The Home Office is the United Kingdom government department responsible for immigration control, security, and order. As such it is responsible for the police, UK Border Agency, and the Security Service . It is also in charge of government policy on security-related issues such as drugs,...
. Ironically, while he was in Pentonville Prison in London, his ultimately most famous and influential book Darkness at Noon was being published in England.
Upon his release in January 1941, he immediately enlisted in the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
and over the following three months, while waiting for his call-up papers and army posting, he wrote Scum of the Earth. The book was well received and had glowing reviews.
“A memorable story, vivid, powerful and deeply searching” – The Times Literary Supplement
“This is a book in a thousand, by far the best book to come out of the collapse of France” – The Guardian
“Koestler’s personal history of France at War. It is, I think, the finest book that has come out of that cauldron” – New York Herald Tribune
This was the first book that Koestler wrote in English. In the Preface to the 1955 edition, after explaining the circumstances under which the book was written, he acknowledges the book’s shortcomings:
Scum of the Earth is the title of a book by Arthur Koestler
Arthur Koestler
Arthur Koestler CBE was a Hungarian author and journalist. Koestler was born in Budapest and, apart from his early school years, was educated in Austria...
in which he describes his life in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
during 1939-1940, the chaos that prevailed in France just prior to the outbreak of the Second World War and France’s collapse, his tribulations, internment in a concentration camp, and eventual escape to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, via North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
and Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
.
Background
At the outbreak of the Second World War, Koestler was living in the South of France working on Darkness at NoonDarkness at Noon
Darkness at Noon is a novel by the Hungarian-born British novelist Arthur Koestler, first published in 1940...
. After retreating to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
he was imprisoned by the French as an undesirable alien, even though he had been a respected crusader against fascism. Koestler arrived in England in December 1940, without an entry permit, travelling with a Hungarian
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
passport. Although he was by then widely known as an anti-fascist he was, nevertheless, imprisoned as an enemy alien while his case was being reviewed by the Home Office
Home Office
The Home Office is the United Kingdom government department responsible for immigration control, security, and order. As such it is responsible for the police, UK Border Agency, and the Security Service . It is also in charge of government policy on security-related issues such as drugs,...
. Ironically, while he was in Pentonville Prison in London, his ultimately most famous and influential book Darkness at Noon was being published in England.
Upon his release in January 1941, he immediately enlisted in the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
and over the following three months, while waiting for his call-up papers and army posting, he wrote Scum of the Earth. The book was well received and had glowing reviews.
“A memorable story, vivid, powerful and deeply searching” – The Times Literary Supplement
“This is a book in a thousand, by far the best book to come out of the collapse of France” – The Guardian
“Koestler’s personal history of France at War. It is, I think, the finest book that has come out of that cauldron” – New York Herald Tribune
This was the first book that Koestler wrote in English. In the Preface to the 1955 edition, after explaining the circumstances under which the book was written, he acknowledges the book’s shortcomings: