The Break is a 1957 novel by the French writer José Giovanni. It is based on a real escape attempt from the La Santé Prison in 1947. It was Giovanni's debut novel. An English translation by Robin Campbell was published in 1960.[1]
The book was adapted by Jacques Becker into the film The Hole. The film starred Michel Constantin, Jean Keraudy (an ex-convict who performed as a character based on himself[2]) and Philippe Leroy. It premiered on 18 March 1960.[3]