Letters from Alcatraz

This special edition has been completely revised and updated with new content including author interviews with James "Whitey" Bulger and a chapter on Mickey Cohen.

NOTE: This book contains graphic depictions of crime and prison violence.

Alcatraz Island was home to some of the nation's most notorious criminals. Prisoners include Al Capone, Mickey Cohen, James "Whitey" Bulger, George "Machine Gun" Kelly, Robert Stroud- the Birdman of Alcatraz, Alvin Karpis, Henry Young, John and Clarence Anglin, and Roy Gardner. In Michael Esslinger's classic book, Letters From Alcatraz, the prisoners' stories come to life in their own words. With over twenty years of research, Esslinger, author of Alcatraz: Definitive History of the Penitentiary Years, has salvaged and compiled an extraordinary collection of inmates' letters, many never before published. Letters from Alcatraz Includes: • A foreword by former Alcatraz Officer: Larry Quilligan • Over 280 photos depicting inmates and the prison workforce • Over 125 letters and original correspondence from inmates both on-and-off the Rock.

Michael Esslinger is a historical researcher and best-selling author whose acclaimed work has appeared in numerous books, film and television documentaries, including segments on the Discovery, National Geographic and History Channels.

His work spans entertainment, science, politics and historical subjects. From Space to Alcatraz, he has interviewed icons that have shaped world history, and continues to write on subjects that explore a vast spectrum of the human experience.