# Henri Charrière

> French convict and author (1906-1973)

**Wikidata**: [Q315020](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q315020)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henri_Charrière)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/henri-charriere

## Summary
Henri Charrière was a French convict and author who lived from 1906 to 1973. He is best known for writing the 1969 memoir *Papillon*, which detailed his experiences as a convicted felon. His work established him as a writer, adventurer, and memoirist within the literary world.

## Biography
- **Born**: 1906 (specific date and place not provided in source)
- **Nationality**: France (a country in Western Europe and other continents through its overseas territories in America, Africa, and Oceania)
- **Education**: Not specified in source material
- **Known for**: Authoring the 1969 memoir *Papillon* as a convicted felon
- **Employer(s)**: Not specified in source material
- **Field(s)**: Writing, specifically as a writer, adventurer, screenwriter, and memoirist

## Contributions
Henri Charrière's primary contribution to literature is the publication of his memoir, *Papillon*, in 1969. This work is categorized as a memoir, a type of autobiographical writing, and serves as a definitive account of his life as a convicted felon. His writing career spanned from 1969 to 1970, during which he produced works that identified him as a writer, adventurer, screenwriter, and memoirist. The publication of *Papillon* stands as his most significant concrete outcome, linking his identity as a French national to the genre of autobiographical literature.

## FAQs
**What is Henri Charrière most famous for?**
He is most famous for publishing the 1969 memoir *Papillon*, which recounts his life as a convicted felon. This book established his reputation as a writer and memoirist.

**What professional roles did Henri Charrière hold?**
Charrière is identified as a writer, adventurer, screenwriter, and memoirist. These roles reflect his diverse engagement with literature and storytelling during his active period.

**When was Henri Charrière active as an author?**
His documented work period began in 1969 and concluded in 1970. This timeframe aligns with the publication of his major work, *Papillon*.

**What is the significance of the book *Papillon*?**
*Papillon* is a 1969 memoir written by Charrière, who was a convicted felon. It serves as a primary example of autobiographical writing within his body of work.

## Why They Matter
Henri Charrière matters because he provided a first-hand narrative of life as a convict through his memoir *Papillon*. His work expanded the scope of the memoir genre by blending the experiences of a French convict with the persona of an adventurer. Without his contribution, the specific literary record of his convictions and subsequent life as a writer would be absent from the canon of French literature. His identification as a screenwriter suggests his influence may have extended beyond books into visual media, though specific adaptations are not detailed in the provided source.

## Notable For
- Authoring the 1969 memoir *Papillon*
- Being identified as a French convict and author
- Holding the titles of writer, adventurer, screenwriter, and memoirist
- Having a work period active between 1969 and 1970
- Being associated with the country of France, which includes territories in Western Europe, America, Africa, and Oceania
- Possessing 43 sitelinks across various knowledge bases

## Body

### Identity and Nationality
Henri Charrière was a French national, a citizen of a country located in Western Europe. His nationality also encompasses connections to overseas territories in America, Africa, and Oceania. He is classified fundamentally as a human being and a member of the species *Homo sapiens*. His primary public identity is that of a French convict and author, a description that spans his life from 1906 to 1973.

### Professional Roles and Fields
Charrière operated in several distinct professional capacities. He is categorized as a writer, utilizing written words to communicate ideas and produce literary works. Additionally, he is identified as an adventurer, a person who actively seeks adventures. His professional scope also included screenwriting, the craft of writing for films, TV shows, comics, and games. Finally, he is recognized specifically as a memoirist, a specialized type of autobiographer. These roles collectively define his field of work as literary creation and personal narrative.

### Literary Works and Publications
The central work of Charrière's career is the book *Papillon*, published in 1969. This text is explicitly defined as a memoir, a genre of autobiographical or biographical writing. The work is attributed to his status as a convicted felon, providing a unique perspective within the genre. The publication of *Papillon* marks the beginning of his documented work period, which started in 1969.

### Career Timeline and Activity
Henri Charrière's active professional period is recorded as starting in 1969 and ending in 1970. This short but significant window coincides with the release of his memoir. The data indicates his work period end date as 1970, suggesting his primary literary output was concentrated in this brief timeframe. His life concluded in 1973, three years after his documented work period ended.

### Digital Presence and Metadata
In the context of knowledge databases, Henri Charrière is associated with 43 sitelinks, indicating a moderate level of documentation across various platforms. His Wikipedia title is listed as "Henri Charrière," and he has an alias recorded as "Henri Charriere." The Wikidata description succinctly summarizes him as a "French convict and author (1906-1973)." These metadata points confirm his status as a notable figure within digital knowledge structures.

## References

1. [birth certificate](https://archives.ardeche.fr/ark:/39673/1210233/daogrp/0/19)
2. Integrated Authority File
3. International Standard Name Identifier
4. BnF authorities
5. Virtual International Authority File
6. CiNii Research
7. MusicBrainz
8. SNAC
9. Find a Grave
10. Discogs
11. GeneaStar
12. Munzinger Personen
13. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
14. Czech National Authority Database
15. CONOR.SI
16. The Movie Database
17. LIBRIS. 2012
18. Virtual Study of Theatre Institute