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[Visalakshi Ramani]

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# 9. Jack Henry Abbott

Jack Henry Abbott (January 21, 1944 – February 10, 2002) was an an American criminal and an author.

He was released from prison in 1981 after gaining praise for his writing and being lauded by a number of high-profile literary critics.

Six weeks after his release, however, he fatally stabbed a man during an altercation, was convicted of murder and returned to prison, where he committed suicide in 2002.

Abbott was born to an Irish-American soldier and a Chinese prostitute.In his book, In the belly of the beast, he claimed to have been in and out of foster care from the moment of his birth until the age of nine, at which point he started "serving long stints in juvenile detention quarters."

As a child, Abbott was in trouble with teachers and later with the law, and by the age of 16 was sent to a long-term reform institution in Utah. According to Abbott, his mistreatment by the school guards left him scarred for life.

In 1977, Abbott wrote to Mailer, and offered to write about his time behind bars in order to provide a more factual depiction of life in prison.

Mailer agreed and helped to publish In the Belly of the Beast, a book on life in the prison system consisting of Abbott's letters to Mailer

In 1987, Abbott published another book titled My Return, which was not as popular as In the Belly of the Beast.

In both these works, Abbott argues that society must reckon with its treatment of prisoners and that the prison system is fundamentally flawed in that it treats prisoners like sub-human creatures.

In "Belly of the Beast" he explains the helplessness that prisoners feel while at the mercy of a prison system that is seemingly never held accountable for its actions. He also hints at the subtle yet devastating effect prisons have on all society.

 

[Visalakshi Ramani]

# 10. ALEKSANDER SOLZHENITSYN.

Aleksandr Isayevich Solzhenitsyn ((11 December 1918 –
3 August 2008) was a novelist, dramatist and historian of Soviet Union and Russia.

His world famous works are The Gulag Archipelago and
One day in the life of Ivan Denisovich.

Through his often-suppressed writings, he helped to raise global awareness of the Gulag, the forced labor camp of Soviet Union – particularly in two of his best-known works.

During World War II Solzhenitsyn served as the commander of a sound ranging battery in the Red Army.
He was involved in major action at the front, and twice decorated.

A series of writings published late in his life, included the early uncompleted novel Love the Revolution!,the chronicles of his World War II experience and his growing doubts about the moral foundations of the Soviet regime.

In February 1945, while serving in East Prussia, Solzhenitsyn was arrested for writing derogatory comments in letters to friends about the conduct of the war by the master Joseph Stalin.

He was accused of anti-Soviet propaganda under Article 58 paragraph 10 of the Soviet criminal code, and of "founding a hostile organization" under paragraph 11.

Solzhenitsyn was taken to the prison in Moscow, where he was beaten and interrogated. On 7 July 1945, he was sentenced in his absence by to an eight-year term in a labor camp. This was the normal sentence for most crimes under Article 58 at the time.

Nobel prize for Literature was awarded to Solzhenitsyn in 1970. He was expelled from the Soviet Union in 1974, but returned to Russia in 1994 after the Soviet system had collapsed.

 

[Visalakshi Ramani]

# 11. Jean Genet.

"The Thief's Journal" is perhaps Jean Genet's most authentically autobiographical novel. It personifies his quest for spiritual glory through his pursuit of evil.

Writing in the intensely lyrical prose style (that is his trademark) the man Jean Cocteau dubbed France's
"Black Prince of Letters" here reconstructs his early adult years -the time he had spent as a petty criminal and a vagabond, traveling through Spain and Antwerp, occasionally border hopping across the rest of Europe-but always one step ahead of the authorities.

Popular reviews:-

"Only a handful of twentieth-century writers, such as Kafka and Proust, have as important, as authoritative, as irrevocable a voice and style." -- Susan Sontag;

"One of the strongest and most vital accounts of a life ever set down on paper!" Genet has dramatized the story of his own life with a power and vision which take the breath away.

The Thief's Journal will undoubtedly establish Genet as one of the most daring literary figures of all time." -- The New York Post.

 

[Visalakshi Ramani]

# 12. Mahatma Gandhi.

He was a peaceful Indian revolutionary who preached passive resistance and strongly believed in non-violence.

For his actions, he was imprisoned several times, where he was known to go on hunger strikes in support of his cause.

The book My experiments with truth written in prison, contains his teachings in his own words on civil disobedience, non-violence, freedom, communism, and even how to enjoy prison.

The Story of My Experiments with Truth (Gujarātī: સત્યના પ્રયોગો અથવા આત્મકથા) is the autobiography of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, covering his life from early childhood through to 1920.

It was initiated at the insistence of Swami Anand and other close co-workers of Gandhi, for him to explain the background of his public campaigns.

In 1999, the book was designated as one of the "100 Most Important Spiritual Books of the 20th Century" by Harper Collins publishers.

 

[Visalakshi Ramani]

# 13. Nelson Mandela.

For striving for equality in South Africa, Nelson Mandela and his friends were imprisoned.

After a 27 year sentence, he published his autobiography, much of which was written secretly while in prison. The book details his early life, adulthood, education, time in prison, and rise to power.

Long Walk to Freedom was published in 1995 by Little Brown & Co. The book profiles his early life, coming of age, education and 27 years in prison.

The last chapters of the book describe his political ascension, and his belief that the struggle continues against apartheid in in South Africa.

Within the first parts of the autobiography, Mandela describes his upbringing as a child and adolescent in South Africa and his connection with the royal Thembu dynasty.

His childhood name was Rolihlahla, which is loosely translated as "pulling the branch of a tree," or mean a "troublemaker."Later in the text, Mandela describes his education at a Thembu college. He mentions his education at the University of Fort Hare and his practice of law later on.

Within the second part of the book, Mandela introduces political and social aspects of apartheid in South Africa.

Mandela joined the African national Congress in 1950 and describes his organization of guerrilla tactics and underground organizations to battle against apartheid.

 

[Visalakshi Ramani]

# 14. St. Paul

After the death of Jesus, his apostles scattered to teach his word, as well as avoid prison.

Paul of Tarsus, also known as Saint Paul, is thought to have been arrested and imprisoned on more than one occasion and may have even been executed for preaching Christianity.

The “Writings of Saint Paul” contain his letters and teachings. In fact, the Vatican recently released findings on how he died, along with his tomb which is still housed in the Basilica of St. Paul in Rome.

 

[Iyyarooraan]

Very interesting. Please give doses on other 11 Saints. I think the term "doubting Thomas" is referred to St Thomas.

 

[Visalakshi Ramani]

This thread "Sentences vs Sentences"
is now devoted to the famous literary works
written or launched while their authors were in prison.

Tom, Dick and Harry are similar to our Kuppan and Suppan.

So the 'peeping Tom' and 'doubting Thomas' need not necessarily refer to a venerable saint.

In any case I am NOT going to start a religious controversy

Very interesting. Please give doses on other 11 Saints. I think the term "doubting Thomas" is referred to St Thomas.

 

[Visalakshi Ramani]

# 15. Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer (February 4, 1906 – April 9, 1945) was a pastor, theologian and martyr.

He was also a participant in the resistance movement against Nazism.

His involvement in plans to assassinate Hitler resulted in his arrest in April 1943 and his subsequent execution by hanging in April 1945, 23 days before the Nazis' surrender.

His view of Christianity's role in the secular world has become very influential.

For a year and a half, Bonhoeffer was imprisoned at a military prison awaiting trial.

There he continued his work in religious outreach among his fellow prisoners and guards.

Sympathetic guards helped smuggle his letters out of prison.

These uncensored letters were posthumously published in Letters and Papers from Prison.

 

[Visalakshi Ramani]

# 16. Oscar Wilde.

Oscar Wilde was an influential poet who lived in the late 1800’s.

After publishing works such as “The Importance of Being Earnest,” he was arrested for indecency with other men and sentenced to two years hard labor.

During this time, he wrote “De Profundis,” a letter to his then lover which would be known today as a “Dear John” letter.

However, for its haunting words and lyricism, this is one of the most famous works that was written in prison.

De Profundis means "from the depths". During its first half Wilde recounts their previous relationship and extravagant lifestyle which eventually led to Wilde's conviction and imprisonment for gross indecency.

He indicts both Lord Alfred's vanity and his own weakness in acceding to those wishes.

In the second half, Wilde charts his spiritual development in prison and identification with Jesus Christ-whom he characterizes as a romantic, individualist artist.

Wilde wrote the letter between January and March 1897; close to the end of his imprisonment.

Contact had lapsed between Douglas and Wilde and the latter had suffered from his physical labor and emotional isolation.

Wilde's work was closely supervised and he was not allowed to send the letter, but took it with him upon release.

Ross published the letter in 1905, five years after Wilde's death, giving it the title "De Profundis"

It was an incomplete version, excised of its autobiographical elements; various editions gave more text until 1962 when the complete and correct version appeared in a volume of Wilde's letters.

 

[Visalakshi Ramani]

# 17. Erza Pound

Ezra Pound was born in Hailey, Idaho, in 1885. He completed two years of college at the University of Pennsylvania and earned a degree from Hamilton College in 1905.

After teaching at Wabash College for two years, he traveled abroad to Spain, Italy and London.

He became interested in Japanese and Chinese poetry. He married Dorothy Shakespeare in 1914 and became London editor of the Little Review in 1917.

In 1924, he moved to Italy and became involved in Fascist politics. He did not return to the United States until 1945.

He was arrested on charges of treason for broadcasting Fascist propaganda by radio to the United States during the Second World War.

In 1946, he was acquitted, but declared mentally ill and committed to St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Washington, D.C.

During his confinement, the jury of the Bollingen-Library of Congress Award decided to overlook Pound's political career in the interest of recognizing his poetic achievements.

He was awarded the prize for the Pisan Cantos (1948).

After continuous appeals from writers won his release from the hospital in 1958, Pound returned to Italy and settled in Venice, where he died, a semi-recluse, in 1972.

 

[Visalakshi Ramani]

# 18. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr. is one of the most influential civil rights leaders in modern times.

After planning a non-violent protest against racial segregation (with the help of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights) he was arrested and imprisoned.

What followed was a letter written from the prison on April 16, 1963. The Letter from Birmingham Jail or Letter from Birmingham City Jail, also known as The Negro Is Your Brother, is an open letter written on April 16, 1963.

It condemned the then prevalent racial discrimination by Birmingham's city government and downtown retailers.

It was smuggled out of the jail in a toothpaste tube to avoid the jail's guards.

King's letter was in a response to a statement made by eight white Alabama clergymen on April 12, 1963, titled "A call for unity".

The clergymen agreed that social injustices existed but argued that the battle against racial segregation should be fought solely in the courts, not in the streets.

They criticized Martin Luther calling him an “outside agitator” who causes trouble in the streets of Birmingham.

To this, King referred to his belief that all communities and states were interrelated.

He wrote, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." He felt that," Anyone who lives inside the United States can never be considered an outsider…”

King expressed his remorse that the demonstrations were taking place in Birmingham but felt that the white power structure left the black community with no other choice.

The letter includes the famous statement "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere," as well as the William. E. Gladstone's words quoted by King: "Justice too long delayed is justice denied."

 

[Visalakshi Ramani]

# 19. HENRI DAVID THOREAU

(born July 12, 1817, Concord, Massachusetts, U.S.—died May 6, 1862, Concord)

Thoreau was an American essayist, poet, and practical philosopher.

He is renowned for having lived the doctrines of Transcendentalism (as recorded in his masterwork, Walden - 1854).

He was a vigorous advocate of civil liberties, (as evidenced in the essay “Civil Disobedience” - 1849).

On an evening in July 1846 he encountered Sam Staples, the constable and tax gatherer.

Staples asked him amiably to pay his poll tax, which Thoreau had omitted paying for several years.

He declined, and Staples locked him up. The next morning a lady, perhaps his aunt, Maria, paid the tax.

Thoreau reluctantly emerged, did an errand, and then went blackberrying. A single night in the jail was enough to make his point that he could not support a government that endorsed slavery and waged an imperialist war against Mexico.

His defense of the individual conscience against the majority was expressed in his essay, “Civil Disobedience.” It was published in May 1849 as “Resistance to Civil Government.”

The essay received little attention until the 20th century, when it found an eager audience.

To many, its message still sounds timely: there is a higher law than the civil one, and the higher law must be followed even if a penalty ensues.

So does its consequence: “Under a government which imprisons any unjustly, the true place for a just man is also a prison.”

 

[Visalakshi Ramani]

# 20. Jawaharlal Nehru

The son of Motilal Nehru- a wealthy barrister and politician - Jawaharlal Nehru became a leader of the left wing of the Congress when fairly young.

Nehru was a charismatic and radical leader. In the long struggle for Indian independence, Nehru was eventually recognized as Gandhi's political heir.

Nehru - late Prime Minister of India - wrote
The Letters from a father to his daughter to his beloved young daughter, Indira Gandhi, who also went on to become Prime Minister of India .

Letters from a Father to His Daughter is a collection of 30 letters written in 1928 by Nehru to Indira-his only daughter who was 10 years old. They teach us about natural history and the civilizations.

His last in a series of letters from prison, shows the compassionate and tolerant nature of the man - a spirit we need to recapture if India is to become a dynamic "Secular" State and set an example to all nations.

 

[Visalakshi Ramani]

# 21. Bal Gangadhara Tilak.

Bal Gangadhar Tilak is considered as Father of Indian National Movement.

He was a multifaceted personality. He was a social reformer, freedom fighter, national leader, and a scholar of Indian history, Sanskrit, Hinduism, Mathematics and Astronomy.

Bal Gangadhar Tilak was popularly called as Lokmanya (Beloved of the people). During freedom struggle, his slogan “Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it” inspired millions of Indians.

Tilak in his paper Kesari defended the revolutionaries and called for immediate Swaraj or Self-rule. The Government swiftly arrested him for sedition.

British judge convicted him and he was imprisoned from 1908 to 1914 in Burma in the Mandalay prison.

While imprisoned, he continued to read and write, further developing his ideas on the Indian Nationalist movement.

While in the prison he wrote the famous "Gita Rahasya". A large number of copies were sold and the money raised was donated for the freedom fighting.

 

[Visalakshi Ramani]

The series Sentences VS Sentences will be completed with the #25th entry in this thread.

That DOES NOT mean that the list of authors and their work launched/ written in prison is exhaustive.

I am sure there will be many more than what I have listed. May be I will take it up later once again.

 

[Brahmanyan]

# 21. Bal Gangadhara Tilak.

Bal Gangadhar Tilak is considered as Father of Indian National Movement.

He was a multifaceted personality. He was a social reformer, freedom fighter, national leader, and a scholar of Indian history, Sanskrit, Hinduism, Mathematics and Astronomy.

Bal Gangadhar Tilak was popularly called as Lokmanya (Beloved of the people). During freedom struggle, his slogan “Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it” inspired millions of Indians.

Tilak in his paper Kesari defended the revolutionaries and called for immediate Swaraj or Self-rule. The Government swiftly arrested him for sedition.

British judge convicted him and he was imprisoned from 1908 to 1914 in Burma in the Mandalay prison.

While imprisoned, he continued to read and write, further developing his ideas on the Indian Nationalist movement.

While in the prison he wrote the famous "Gita Rahasya". A large number of copies were sold and the money raised was donated for the freedom fighting.

Dear Mrs Visalakshi Ramani,

It might be interest to know that Lokamanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak was defended by eminent lawyer and member of Indian National Congress Mr. Mohammed Ali Jinnah, on his sedition trial in 1908.

Regards,
Brahmanyan,
Bangalore.

 

[Brahmanyan]

# 20. Jawaharlal Nehru

The son of Motilal Nehru- a wealthy barrister and politician - Jawaharlal Nehru became a leader of the left wing of the Congress when fairly young.

Nehru was a charismatic and radical leader. In the long struggle for Indian independence, Nehru was eventually recognized as Gandhi's political heir.

Nehru - late Prime Minister of India - wrote
The Letters from a father to his daughter to his beloved young daughter, Indira Gandhi, who also went on to become Prime Minister of India .

Letters from a Father to His Daughter is a collection of 30 letters written in 1928 by Nehru to Indira-his only daughter who was 10 years old. They teach us about natural history and the civilizations.

His last in a series of letters from prison, shows the compassionate and tolerant nature of the man - a spirit we need to recapture if India is to become a dynamic "Secular" State and set an example to all nations.

Dear Mrs Visalakshi Ramani,

Pundit Jawaharlal Nehru was a great patriot who had gone to prison for about 14 years in total during his struggle against British Rule.

Regards,
Brahmanyan,
Bangalore.

 

[Visalakshi Ramani]

dear Sir,

I knew about it but since my topic is about the books written in prison, I did not highlight that fact.

Each person is an ocean in himself-if only we have enough time and energy to bring out their real greatness, we can go on writing for many days!

with warm regards,
Visalakshi Ramani.

QUOTE=Brahmanyan;90813]Dear Mrs Visalakshi Ramani,

It might be interest to know that Lokamanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak was defended by eminent lawyer and member of Indian National Congress Mr. Mohammed Ali Jinnah, on his sedition trial in 1908.

Regards,
Brahmanyan,
Bangalore.[/QUOTE]

 

[Visalakshi Ramani]

dear Sir,

In those days the leaders were real leaders in every aspect and went to prison for their lofty ideals.

Even while at prison they did creative things.

What can I say about the so called leaders of today! :doh:

with warm regards,
Visalakshi Ramani.

Dear Mrs Visalakshi Ramani,

Pundit Jawaharlal Nehru was a great patriot who had gone to prison for about 14 years in total during his struggle against British Rule.

Regards,
Brahmanyan,
Bangalore.

 

[Visalakshi Ramani]

# 22. THOMAS MORE.

Sir Thomas More ( 7 February 1478– 6 July 1535), also known by Catholics as Saint Thomas More, was an English lawyer, a social philosopher, a statesman, an author and a humanist.

He was an important Councilor to the King Henry VIII and also a Lord Chancellor. He is recognized as a saint and a 'Reformation martyr.

In 1535, he was tried for treason and beheaded. Thomas More was beatified by the Catholic Church in 1886, and canonized with John Fischer in 1935.

"Prison Letters" is one of his famous works - written to his oldest daughter Margaret Roper - while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London, awaiting execution.

 

[Visalakshi Ramani]

# 23. MACHIAVILLI

Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli (3 May 1469 – 21 June 1527) was an Italian historian, philosopher, humanist, and writer based in Florence.

He is one of the main founders of modern Political science. He was a diplomat, playwright, political philosopher,and a civil servant of the Florentine Republic.

He also wrote comedies, carnival songs, poetry, and some of the most well-known personal correspondence in the Italian language.

Machiavelli's most well-known writing was during the time when the Medici recovered power, and Machiavelli was removed from all positions of responsibility.

1513, was accused of conspiracy, and arrested and imprisoned for a time. Despite torture he denied involvement and was released.

Retiring to his estate, he devoted himself to study and writing the political treatises that earned him an important place in the development of political philosophy and political conduct.

Niccolò Machiavelli’s best-known book, Il Principe, contains a number of maxims concerning politics, but rather than the more traditional subject of a hereditary prince, it concentrates on the possibility of a "new prince".

To retain power, the hereditary prince must carefully maintain the socio-political institutions to which the people are accustomed.

The new prince has the more difficult task in ruling, since he must first stabilize his new-found power in order to build an enduring political structure.

That requires the prince being concerned with reputation but also being willing to act immorally.

As a political scientist, Machiavelli emphasizes the occasional need for the methodical exercise of brute force, deceit, and so on.

 

[Visalakshi Ramani]

# 24. Sir Thomas Malory

( The author of the novel Le Morte d'Arthur )

Le Morte D'Arthur is the first true novel written in English. It is a moving tale of love and betrayal, and honorable quests inspired by noble ideals

Thomas Malory was a rogue, as well as a very distinguished author. What a rare combination!

His many crimes were cattle rustling, ambush in order to murder, robbery, extortion, rape and insulting an Abbot.

He spent a significant part of his life in prison.
It was while in prison, that he wrote its 507
chapters and more than 300,000 words of his novel.

Malory originally wrote Le Morte d'Arthur as eight books, or "tales".

 

[Visalakshi Ramani]

# 25. BOETHIUS

Anicius Manlius Severinus Boëthius,
(480–524 or 525 AD) was a great philosopher of the early 6th century.

He was born in Rome, to an ancient and important family which included emperors and consuls.

Boethius, of the noble Anicius lineage, entered public life at a young age and was already a senator by the age of 25.

Boethius himself was consul in 510 and in 522 he saw his two sons become consuls.

Boethius was imprisoned and eventually executed by King Theodoric the Great- who suspected him of conspiring with the Eastern Empire.

While jailed, Boethius composed his philosophical treatise on fortune, death, and many other issues in "Consolation of Philosophy."

The Consolation became one of the most popular and influential works of the Middle Ages.

He wrote this while in exile under house arrest or in prison while awaiting his execution,

This work represented an imaginary dialogue between himself and philosophy, with philosophy being personified by a woman.

The book argues that despite the apparent inequality of the world, there is a higher power and everything else is secondary to that divine Providence.

 

[Visalakshi Ramani]

The sub-thread Sentences vs sentences is completed.

I wanted to continue with the less known facts about

famous authors. But the number of views of this

thread is not proportional :sad:

to the time I spent in :clock:

gathering those interesting info. :typing:

So for the present this thread is closed. :wave: