Any written works created while the author is in jail are known as prison literature. This applies to both fiction and nonfiction. A considerable number of works, by very well known writers, were created in this fashion.
While a good many written works were created behind bars, some of the more famous examples include Mein Kampf (by Adolf Hitler), The Pilgrim's Progress (by John Bunyan) and De Profundis (by Oscar Wilde), while Jeffrey Archer wrote his prison memoirs in jail and Marquis de Sade produced a huge body of work while imprisoned for more than 10 years.
Hitler was locked away in 1924 for attempting to seize power in Munich with his Bier Hall Putsch. While in jail he wrote Mein Kampf, which translates as "My Struggle". It became extremely popular as Hitler rose to power, and by the end of World War II around 10 million copies of the book were in circulation in Germany alone. The book is, unsurprisingly, still considered controversial, for its racist contents.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest books written in English, The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan found publication in 1678. The names given to the individuals found in the story are things like "Pliable", "Christian", "Evangelist", "Obstinate", "Mr. Worldly Wiseman" and so on, which hints at the symbolic nature of the storytelling. It is not known precisely when writing of The Pilgrim's Progress was started, as it could have been during any of several periods spent in jail by Bunyan.
In modern times, one successful and well known author to write in jail is Jeffrey Archer. He was a politician, and was imprisoned for perjury and perverting the course of justice. Whilst jailed, he produced 3 works on his life in prison - Belmarsh: Hell, Wayland: Purgatory, and North Sea Camp: Heaven. Archer also has an impressive resume as a fiction writer, and some of the characters in his subsequent novels were based on people he met in prison. His time in jail certainly never hampered his literary success, as he has sold well over a hundred million books.
The Marquis de Sade was also a notorious figure in his time, who was actually imprisoned as a direct result of his writings, which were famously deviant in content. Napoleon Bonaparte himself (who would, coincidentally, later dictate his memoirs while imprisoned on St. Helena Island) ordered Sade's arrest for authoring the books Justine and Juliette. Sade is said to have written 11 novels, 16 novellas, 20 plays, 2 volumes of essays, and a diary during his long imprisonment at the Bastille.
Oscar Wilde was also no stranger to sexual controversy in his time. In 19th Century England it was illegal to engage in gay sexual acts, and this led to Oscar Wilde's imprisonment. Whilst in jail, Wilde composed a fifty-thousand word letter to his partner Lord Alfred Douglas. He was never allowed to send this letter but after he died it was edited to create the work "De Profundis". A complete and unedited version of the letter has since been released.
These are just a few of the writers who have produced famous work while being held prisoner. They were able to remain productive despite imprisonment, while for their readers, the thrills of notorious authors, unfair imprisonments and the gritty world behind bars only enhance the appeal of prison literature.
While a good many written works were created behind bars, some of the more famous examples include Mein Kampf (by Adolf Hitler), The Pilgrim's Progress (by John Bunyan) and De Profundis (by Oscar Wilde), while Jeffrey Archer wrote his prison memoirs in jail and Marquis de Sade produced a huge body of work while imprisoned for more than 10 years.
Hitler was locked away in 1924 for attempting to seize power in Munich with his Bier Hall Putsch. While in jail he wrote Mein Kampf, which translates as "My Struggle". It became extremely popular as Hitler rose to power, and by the end of World War II around 10 million copies of the book were in circulation in Germany alone. The book is, unsurprisingly, still considered controversial, for its racist contents.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest books written in English, The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan found publication in 1678. The names given to the individuals found in the story are things like "Pliable", "Christian", "Evangelist", "Obstinate", "Mr. Worldly Wiseman" and so on, which hints at the symbolic nature of the storytelling. It is not known precisely when writing of The Pilgrim's Progress was started, as it could have been during any of several periods spent in jail by Bunyan.
In modern times, one successful and well known author to write in jail is Jeffrey Archer. He was a politician, and was imprisoned for perjury and perverting the course of justice. Whilst jailed, he produced 3 works on his life in prison - Belmarsh: Hell, Wayland: Purgatory, and North Sea Camp: Heaven. Archer also has an impressive resume as a fiction writer, and some of the characters in his subsequent novels were based on people he met in prison. His time in jail certainly never hampered his literary success, as he has sold well over a hundred million books.
The Marquis de Sade was also a notorious figure in his time, who was actually imprisoned as a direct result of his writings, which were famously deviant in content. Napoleon Bonaparte himself (who would, coincidentally, later dictate his memoirs while imprisoned on St. Helena Island) ordered Sade's arrest for authoring the books Justine and Juliette. Sade is said to have written 11 novels, 16 novellas, 20 plays, 2 volumes of essays, and a diary during his long imprisonment at the Bastille.
Oscar Wilde was also no stranger to sexual controversy in his time. In 19th Century England it was illegal to engage in gay sexual acts, and this led to Oscar Wilde's imprisonment. Whilst in jail, Wilde composed a fifty-thousand word letter to his partner Lord Alfred Douglas. He was never allowed to send this letter but after he died it was edited to create the work "De Profundis". A complete and unedited version of the letter has since been released.
These are just a few of the writers who have produced famous work while being held prisoner. They were able to remain productive despite imprisonment, while for their readers, the thrills of notorious authors, unfair imprisonments and the gritty world behind bars only enhance the appeal of prison literature.
About the Author:
Find out why prison literature is so important by viewing our web pages at hopeforeveryone.com now. To access our online bookstore and read testimonials, check the links at http://hopeforeveryone.com today.
No comments:
Post a Comment