Holloway Prison: An Inside Story - Softcover

Beauchamp, Hillary

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1904380565 ISBN 13: 9781904380566

Publisher: Waterside Press, 2010

Synopsis

This book offers a unique and telling insight into life in the claustrophobic and sometimes violent atmosphere of London's Holloway Prison. This was what author and artist Hilary Beauchamp came to know only too well. It is a compelling, true life account of Beauchamp's experiences serving as a creative arts instructor in this famous north-London prison. Beauchamp 'lifts the lid' on life inside, making the book a must for students of women's imprisonment. Her inside story is also a 'Rough Guide' as to what to expect when entering a closed institution as an outsider. Holloway Prison: An Inside Story is an ideal primer on women's issues within the penal system. The book's unusually perceptive description of the ways in which imprisonment impacts women adds a new dimension to the literature on this topic. (In 1992, artist Hilary Beauchamp was awarded an MBE for her teaching services to creative arts at Holloway Prison and earlier, in September 2008, she won the ITV London Teacher of the Year Award.)

About this title

About the Author:

Hilary Beauchamp was awarded an MBE in 1992 for her teaching work at Holloway Prison and in September 2008 she won the ITV London Teacher of the Year Award. In this vivid account, she writes of a career spent at the sharp end, working with some of the most recalcitrant (at times dangerous) women in Britain. A compelling account for anyone at all interested in women's imprisonment or prison education.

Review:

'With many of its pages taken up with the contradictory, unexpected events that Beauchamp witnessed-at once fascinating, bizarre and heart-wrenching-the book is an amalgam of personal interactions bound together by a graphic texture that conveys the look, feel, smell and sound of the prison-a place where every seemingly random noise translates into a meaning': Current Issues in Criminal Justice. 'This book should be read by every taxpayer in the country because it shines a light on what is often a dark place': Inside Time. 'Describing the work of the Education Department of Britains biggest prison for women is a daunting task in itself. Hilary Beauchamp has excelled and captured the very essence and spirit of this exasperating, contradictory, bi-polar afflicted enterprise. Succesful teaching in prisons has always depended on exceptionally dedicated and gifted teachers and on these criteria Hilary is in a class of her own. Reading her book reveals just how well deserved was her MBE - a George Cross for sheer bravery would also have been appropriate!': Erlend Lee, former HoD Education, HMP Holloway. 'A valued social contribution to recent studies in applied criminology and a work which all researchers and students should read and critically appreciate, especially if they have not been involved hitherto in 'the sharp end' of things... makes good reading for a wide market: from law students and social workers, to teachers and all involved in socially useful work where Hilary Beauchamp has certainly picked up the vibes of what we do as part of the criminal justice process as lawyers': Phillip Taylor MBE and Elizabeth Taylor of Richmond Green Chambers.'After reading this book one is reminded of comments by Joan Bakewell. In 2006 she called for the majority of women prisoners to be released from Holloway on the premise that most of them were not violent criminals and needed emotional support or psychological help rather than detention': Camden New Journal. 'An excellent text ... Hilary Beauchamp writes wonderfully, vividly and honestly': Ben Whittaker, former barrister, MP and Government Minister. 'I have enormous admiration for Hilary Beauchamp and this book is a fascinating contribution in a field which has not been widely covered ... She has a longstanding track record of quality projects ... someone of total integrity': Lord David Putnam, film director 'Artists are lucky - poets, composers or painters - because rather than commit murder they can produce a work of art on the subject instead': Maggi Hamblyn, artist (from the Foreword)

About this edition

• Publisher: Waterside Press
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 1904380565
• ISBN 13: 9781904380566
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 298