The simplest definition of prison literature is writing that was authored in confinement against own will. The writer could be confined in a prison, in an ordinary jail or under house arrest. Such environment has produced incredible fiction, non-fiction, memoirs, press articles and plays, among other scripts. It is the writer who is imprisoned, writing about imprisonment or informed by confinement experience.
The earliest work by a prisoner was done by Boethius and was titled Consolation of Philosophy. It was written in 524 AD. It opened a genre of writing that has continued to grow over the years. Other writers have followed his footsteps including notable personalities like Martin Luther and Napoleon Bonaparte. Luther produced the German translation of the New Testament while under arrest. Bonaparte dictated his memoirs in the same condition. They became best sellers later in the nineteenth century.
Life behind bars has the potential of changing the entire human person. An example is Fyodor Dostoevsky who changed style and content because of imprisonment. He was accused of being a member of an illegal intellectual movement. His earlier works were about suffering and humility. After release, the themes of his writing changed to make him a fierce critic of nihilist and socialist views. His works became dark and complex.
The nature of prisons does not allow writers to access decent writing materials. They use waste papers and their manuscripts have to be smuggled out in secrecy at a certain point. Writers who have penned about their experiences include William Sydney Porter who used the name O Henry to produce 14 stories. Ken Saro Wiwa wrote about a naive soldier living behind bars in a book entitled Sozaboy.
One remarkable prison writing is that of an Iranian author called Mahmoud Dowlatabadi. His book was 500 pages long and entitled Missing Soluch. He did not have any pen or paper with him when he was writing the book. The entire book is said to have been written in the head while he was still behind bars. It took him 70 days to copy it on paper after he secured his release.
Some literary icons have produced incredible works while confined behind in different prisons. They include Chris Ambani, a Nigerian who documented his experience in Kalakuta Republic. The other example is Ngugi wa Thiongo who compiled his memoirs in a collection entitled Detained, A Prisoners Diary. The diary was published in 1981. Women who have contributed in this genre include Precious B from New York, Madam Roland from France, Nawal El Saadawi in Egypt and Beatrice Saubin who wrote from Malaysia.
Prisoners have written to pass time especially the incarcerated intellectuals. Organizations have been organizing writing forums for prisoners in an attempt to tap into their thoughts. This genre has been used to fuel revolutions and contribute to debates outside prisons, either directly or indirectly.
Prison literature thrives on the experiences, philosophy and thoughts of imprisoned people. Prisoners are encouraged to write in order to overcome the trauma or as a therapeutic act of cleansing their minds of the horror behind bars. It allows them to reconcile with imprisonment.
The earliest work by a prisoner was done by Boethius and was titled Consolation of Philosophy. It was written in 524 AD. It opened a genre of writing that has continued to grow over the years. Other writers have followed his footsteps including notable personalities like Martin Luther and Napoleon Bonaparte. Luther produced the German translation of the New Testament while under arrest. Bonaparte dictated his memoirs in the same condition. They became best sellers later in the nineteenth century.
Life behind bars has the potential of changing the entire human person. An example is Fyodor Dostoevsky who changed style and content because of imprisonment. He was accused of being a member of an illegal intellectual movement. His earlier works were about suffering and humility. After release, the themes of his writing changed to make him a fierce critic of nihilist and socialist views. His works became dark and complex.
The nature of prisons does not allow writers to access decent writing materials. They use waste papers and their manuscripts have to be smuggled out in secrecy at a certain point. Writers who have penned about their experiences include William Sydney Porter who used the name O Henry to produce 14 stories. Ken Saro Wiwa wrote about a naive soldier living behind bars in a book entitled Sozaboy.
One remarkable prison writing is that of an Iranian author called Mahmoud Dowlatabadi. His book was 500 pages long and entitled Missing Soluch. He did not have any pen or paper with him when he was writing the book. The entire book is said to have been written in the head while he was still behind bars. It took him 70 days to copy it on paper after he secured his release.
Some literary icons have produced incredible works while confined behind in different prisons. They include Chris Ambani, a Nigerian who documented his experience in Kalakuta Republic. The other example is Ngugi wa Thiongo who compiled his memoirs in a collection entitled Detained, A Prisoners Diary. The diary was published in 1981. Women who have contributed in this genre include Precious B from New York, Madam Roland from France, Nawal El Saadawi in Egypt and Beatrice Saubin who wrote from Malaysia.
Prisoners have written to pass time especially the incarcerated intellectuals. Organizations have been organizing writing forums for prisoners in an attempt to tap into their thoughts. This genre has been used to fuel revolutions and contribute to debates outside prisons, either directly or indirectly.
Prison literature thrives on the experiences, philosophy and thoughts of imprisoned people. Prisoners are encouraged to write in order to overcome the trauma or as a therapeutic act of cleansing their minds of the horror behind bars. It allows them to reconcile with imprisonment.
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