Welcome to Hell: Letters and Writings from Death Row - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 155553290X ISBN 13: 9781555532901

Publisher: Northeastern University Press, 1997

Synopsis

This deeply moving book vividly conveys life in the hidden world of death row by giving condemned men and women in the United States the rare opportunity to speak for themselves. Ranging from descriptions of cockroach races to eloquent statements about facing execution, this collection of letters from inmates to members of the pen friend group, Lifelines, unmasks the human face of the death penalty. As Sister Helen Prejean writes in her foreword, "Take this guided tour round Hell--guided by those who should know: the prisoners themselves."

About this title

From the Author

The prisoners' own voice
After the first English edition of this book was published in 1991, I received dozens of letters from people saying that it was one of the most powerful and moving books they had ever read. I can boast about the book as I am just the editor: it is really the voice of the men and women on Death Row. The book consists almost entirely of excerpts from letters written by the prisoners to people in Britain and Ireland. The letters were of course not written for publication and so often come from the heart and have great immediacy. People seem either to read the book from cover to cover, or find it such strong meat that they can take it only in small bits at a time. I'd greatly welcome readers' reactions to it.

Edition details

• Publisher: Northeastern University Press
• Publication date: 1997
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 155553290X
• ISBN 13: 9781555532901
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 280
• Editor: Arriens Jan