Prison book/biography
- Thread starter Craig321
- Start date
You could try "A Fair Cop by Michael Bunting". I bought it last year for my holiday, couldn't put it down. Its about a copper who gets sent down. He writes about joining the force, on the job stuff then prison life, very good book imo.
What book are you on about?
What book are you on about?
Man of Honour
- Joined
- 27 Sep 2004
- Posts
- 25,821
- Location
- Glasgow
I don't think it was a book as such, there was a link to another forum or website where someone told of their time in prison and how they'd messed their life up.
Just as examples of a few to look up, the following have all written books or had books written about them.
Charles Bronson has had a number of books written about him, I'm afraid I couldn't tell you which ones are good and which ones aren't though.
Howard Marks released a book called Mr Nice about his life as a drug trafficker.
Mark Brandon "Chopper" Read again has had quite a few books written by or about him - again I couldn't tell you about how good they are.
I started reading Bronson but got bored of it, wasn't intereting enough to keep my attention. Might try again another day as the guys a nutter.
Chopper was good but drifted off towards the end. Its about his life of crime as apposed to prison life but I'd still recommend it. Prefer the film. I read Chopper 2 as well but left it there, I think he's wrote about 10 or 11 books now. If I remember correctly, he'll mention someones name, write stories about them then move onto the next person, almost like being sat in the pub with him telling you stories.
I've got another book yet to read called Screwed by Ronnie Thompson, its about life as a prison guard. His next book is Banged Up, supposed to be very good apparently.
They aren't prison books but I'd recommend these two also.
The Guv'nor by Lenny McLean, an old-school bare-knuckle fighter.
Watch My Back by Geoff Thompson, he was bouncer for some of britains roughest pubs.
Chopper was good but drifted off towards the end. Its about his life of crime as apposed to prison life but I'd still recommend it. Prefer the film. I read Chopper 2 as well but left it there, I think he's wrote about 10 or 11 books now. If I remember correctly, he'll mention someones name, write stories about them then move onto the next person, almost like being sat in the pub with him telling you stories.
I've got another book yet to read called Screwed by Ronnie Thompson, its about life as a prison guard. His next book is Banged Up, supposed to be very good apparently.
They aren't prison books but I'd recommend these two also.
The Guv'nor by Lenny McLean, an old-school bare-knuckle fighter.
Watch My Back by Geoff Thompson, he was bouncer for some of britains roughest pubs.
Two to try both autobiographical:
A Sense of Freedom by Jimmy Boyle is a fascinating account of his life as a criminal and in the penal system.
McVicar by Himself by John McVicar the one time public enemy also covers his time in prison and escape.
A Sense of Freedom by Jimmy Boyle is a fascinating account of his life as a criminal and in the penal system.
McVicar by Himself by John McVicar the one time public enemy also covers his time in prison and escape.
What semi-pro said. Haven't linked it here as original thread was deleted/locked which was probably down to all the swearing etc. in the story. Excellent read though.
Thanks for all the suggestions so far guys. I'll look some of them up in the library and order the ones that I like.
Craig.
Associate
- Joined
- 15 Feb 2010
- Posts
- 1,080
My wife's just read this, she would definitely recommend it.
Associate
- Joined
- 10 Mar 2005
- Posts
- 1,768
Papillon?
Man of Honour
- Joined
- 1 Aug 2004
- Posts
- 12,681
- Location
- Tyneside
Seconded. An absolutely superb read albeit a frightening experience to read about.
Also, Jeffrey Archer's Prison Diaries are a good read as are Tales from Parkhurst.
Soldato
- Joined
- 3 Mar 2008
- Posts
- 2,566
you must read "you got nothin coming" by Jimmy Lerner
Cracking read
Cracking read
Soldato
- Joined
- 10 Mar 2009
- Posts
- 4,473
- Location
- South West
Lord of BellaVista (Colombian prison)
Man of Honour
- Joined
- 17 Nov 2006
- Posts
- 1,931
- Location
- Tooting, London
+2
Reading this at the moment.
Even though its now accepted as being a culmination of differant peoples experiences into one linear story it is one hell of a book.
Soldato
- Joined
- 3 Mar 2008
- Posts
- 2,566
havent read the whole thread, but what about the count of monte cristo
One of my MA modules was in this.
I recommend:
Varlaam Shalamov's Kolyma Tales
Alexsandr Solzhenitsyn's Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich and the (abridged version probably) Gulag Archipelago
Dostoevsky's Notes from the House of the Dead
Chekhov's Journey to Sakhalin
Hope you enjoy some/all of those
Surprised no has said "Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption" a novella by Stephen King. The "Different Seasons" collection is very good, also included "The body" which was made into "stand by me".
+1 for You got nothing coming by Jimmy Lerner - it is an excellent memoir of a middle class man serving time in high security prison in the states.
+1 for You got nothing coming by Jimmy Lerner - it is an excellent memoir of a middle class man serving time in high security prison in the states.
