Bandits & Bibles: Convict Literature in Nineteenth-Century America

by Larry E. Sullivan (editor)

A lively array of selections from the earliest recorded convict autobiographies, examining crimes, arrests and convictions, punishments inflicted, survival techniques, and spiritual awakenings. Hard labor in coal mines, whippings, solitary confinement in bare unheated cells, water torture, and iron maidens—these are just a few of the punishments meted out to these prisoners and vividly recounted in these selections.

Dr. Larry E. Sullivan is Chief Librarian of the John Jay College of Criminal Justice and Professor of Criminal Justice at the City University of New York. He is the author of The Prison Reform Forlorn Hope , as well as author or editor of numerous other books and articles in history, penology, and other disciplines. Sullivan is currently the editor-in-chief of the Encyclopedia of Law Enforcement .

200 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2003

Reviews

[Tom Schulte · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fascinating read of essays, poems and recollections written by 19th Century American convicts. The title may make one think that this is about some sort of Christian reform movement, but the influence of bibles on the life and subculture of these cons is just one of the many facets exposed by this kaleidoscope of the belly of the beast. Some pieces touch on infamous history like Cole Younger's recollection of his final ride with the James-Younger gang. Some pieces are telling glimpses of human nature problems faced re-integrating with society, as in "Problems After Release" by D. B. Smith. Generally autobiographical, these memoir excerpts are revealing and telling windows into a dark and remote corner of society from over a century ago. As with Civil War letters, Frederick Douglass' Narrative and more, 19th Century writing seems imbued with such a gift of literacy and description compared to popular writing of this day when e-mail supplants letters and The Biography Channel replaces biographical books. This collection is another example of such vivid prose. There is also a very entertaining and detailed analysis of period con slang that should not go missed.

[Scott Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very colourful collection of early American prisoner writings. It covers the gamut from recollections of crimes, to prison observations, to faith converstions. Within these pages, you meet not only some intriguing personalities but their manner of thinking and describing the world in which they live. It is an insightful yet easy to read collection.