A Life Inside: A Prisoner's Notebook

by Erwin James

In the mid-1980s, Erwin James was sentenced to life imprisonment for double murder. A young man when he was sent down, he has matured in prison and has reflected on the wasted years he has spent inside. This is the candid and hard-hitting account of those years. He tells of arriving in prison; about learning the who, what, why and when of prison life; about bullying and terror from other inmates and security staff; about replaying the crimes of his past over and over; and about discovering his talent for writing. This is a book that takes its readers on Erwin James's moving and terrible journey from vicious youth to reformed and reflective middle age.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, True Crime

200 pages, Paperback

First published April 14, 2003

Reviews

[Hannah Goraya · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really rate Erwin James as a writer, his columns for the Guardian are measured and powerful. This book and the one that follows are a collection of his columns, written whilst he was in prison in England. His progression through different stages of prison life was, to me, eye opening, as were his accounts of fellow prisoners and their attempts at surviving.

Historically this book is very interesting too, as we have an account of the many changes in the prison service affected by the Governments of the day and the public attitudes towards crime: punishment v rehabilitation.

There were a few parts I would have like to have more information on, for example he describes two friends who are in prison having been recalled. They are both prisoners who previously served life-sentences. The nature of a life-sentence means that on release, if they should ever commit a crime again they can be instantly recalled. The crimes for which the two are recalled are minor, in fact one was found not guilty of the crime and yet was still recalled. The accounts seem so unfair that as a reader I was left wondering how on earth it could be possible for them still to be inside, as if there must be something I hadn't been told. This, however is testament to how involved with the characters and the situations I felt, I wanted to find out what could be done to help or what had been done.

All in all though, a very worthwhile read and a brilliant commission from the Guardian.

[Max · Rating 4 out of 5]

A series of insights from a 'lifer's' experience of imprisonment. Ranging from the everyday to the profound, James' stories provide a sobering yet hope-filled perspective of punishment and rehabilitation in the UK's justice system.

[Brian Bailie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written - an outstanding work.
Highly recommended

[Lou · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gritty diary of tales of prison life.
The complexities of time inside are illustrated through the characters and the journal nature of this book makes it very readable and enlightening.
Recommended read.

[NoxiousJalapeno · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written but the content wasnt as good and 'gritty' as I had hoped and had expected from reading reviews.

[Cherise Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

An alternative look at prisoners. Great book!

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating insight into the World behind bars. A book filled with short stories from the funny to the heart warming. Easy to read and eye opening. x

[Bianca · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well written and has some good stories but found myself skimming through some some parts of the book. Didn't really keep my interest.

[Ian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Humanised insights from a lifer. A mixture of documentary and story telling.

[Lizzy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written short stories, not a book to read in one go.Interesting observations about other prisoners and of prison culture in general. Lots of positive spin, but I think you need that in jail.

[Bookworm86 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good insight into prison life and will be looking for more books like this. Can be confusing at times with going back in time but apart from that a really good book xx