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Prison literature is a well-established genre. Many individuals in confinement turn to writing as a way to cope with the isolation and monotony. For others, writing becomes a necessary outlet to address personal or societal injustices. While imprisonment has been the catalyst for notable works like Solzhenitsyn’s *The Gulag Archipelago*, this list focuses specifically on literary pieces penned while the authors were incarcerated. The arrangement here is not in any particular order, as each piece speaks differently to each reader.
10. To Althea, from Prison By Richard Lovelace
"Stone walls do not a prison make, Nor iron bars a cage;"
These famous opening lines come from the final stanza of Richard Lovelace’s poem *‘To Althea, from Prison.’* Lovelace, a flamboyant cavalier during the English Civil War, is grouped among the metaphysical poets. Imprisoned for presenting a petition in favor of royalist bishops, he used his time behind bars to write this, his most well-known work. Addressed to a possibly fictional lover, the poem explores a theme that runs through much of prison literature: the mind cannot be confined. Despite his physical imprisonment, Lovelace imagines his beloved and concludes with these powerful lines:
"If I have freedom in my love And in my soul am free, Angels alone, that soar above, Enjoy such liberty."
9. *De Profundis* By Oscar Wilde
While for Lovelace, love provided freedom, for Wilde, love became the very source of his confinement. After a series of trials involving his relationships with Lord Alfred Douglas and other men, Wilde was sentenced to two years of hard labor for gross indecency. During his time in Reading prison, he wrote a long letter to Douglas, which was posthumously published as *De Profundis*. The work begins by recounting Wilde’s relationship with Douglas and the emotional toll it took on him. The tone of the letter is not accusatory but reflective. It shifts to Wilde’s realizations, brought about by his imprisonment, and concludes with his reflections on the future, revealing the lessons he learned before his untimely death.
"I have grown weary of the clear, articulate expressions of men and the material world. What I seek is the Mystical in Art, the Mystical in Life, the Mystical in Nature. It is imperative that I find it somewhere."
8. *The Historie of the World* By Sir Walter Raleigh
"Whosoever, in writing a modern history, shall follow truth too closely, it may haply strike out his teeth."
Raleigh’s statement above might suggest that he would not be embraced by modern academic historians, but his incomplete *Historie of the World* remains a masterpiece. Raleigh traces the history of the world from its creation to the Third Macedonian War in 168 BC. This work illustrates how the mind, even when physically confined, can travel across time and space. Though Raleigh was eventually released, he never completed his history before being executed. The work even includes profound reflections on death.
"O eloquent, just and mighty death… thou hast brought together all the vast grandeur, all the pride, cruelty, and ambition of mankind, and covered it all with these two simple words: Hic Jacet [Here Lies]."
7. *Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus* By Ludwig Wittgenstein
"What we cannot speak about we must pass over in silence."
It’s tempting to take that advice when it comes to *Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus*. This work is undeniably one of the most influential philosophical texts of the 20th century and fully warrants a spot on this list. However, it’s also a text that demands multiple readings before one can begin to truly grasp its depth. Wittgenstein started making notes for *Tractatus* during his time as a soldier in World War I and completed it while a prisoner of war at the war's end. The challenge in reading *Tractatus* stems in part from Wittgenstein’s unique style: short, blunt declarations and sub-clauses convey his ideas, but they rarely offer detailed argumentation.
6. The Adventures of Marco Polo Rustichello de Pisa
Marco Polo embarked on his journey with his father and uncle in 1271, returning to Italy in 1295. During his travels, Polo ventured into the largely unknown Far East. Upon his return, he was captured by the Genoese and imprisoned. While incarcerated, Polo shared his experiences with fellow prisoner Rustichello de Pisa, who transcribed the tales. The resulting manuscript spread across Europe, offering the West its most detailed knowledge of China for centuries. While the accuracy of Polo's account is occasionally questioned, its influence is undeniable. Though contact with China had existed for centuries (including trade in ancient Rome), it was Polo’s writings that sparked a lasting fascination with the 'exotic East.' Other Europeans had visited China before, but none left behind such a thorough account—perhaps a prison sentence was the secret ingredient to preserving their legacy.
5. Letters and Papers from Prison Dietrich Bonhoeffer
"Simply standing by and observing is not in accordance with Christian behavior. A Christian is called to compassion and action, not primarily due to his own suffering, but because of the suffering of his fellow man, for whom Christ suffered."
Bonhoeffer had many opportunities for an easier life. Born in 1906 in Germany into a middle-class family, he could have followed his father into medicine or pursued a career in music. Instead, Bonhoeffer chose to study theology and became a pastor, even spending time in Harlem doing pastoral work. When the Nazis rose to power, they placed compliant individuals in positions of leadership, prompting Bonhoeffer and other liberal church leaders to form a separate communion. Despite several chances to escape persecution by moving abroad, Bonhoeffer, after much internal struggle, chose to stay in Germany for the duration of the war. Arrested in 1943, he remained imprisoned until just 23 days before the war ended, when he was executed. During his imprisonment, Bonhoeffer wrote extensively, and this collection of his letters and papers offers valuable insights, even for those who might not delve deeply into Christian theology.
4. Letter from Birmingham Jail Martin Luther King Jr
"My Dear Fellow Clergymen: While confined here in the Birmingham city jail, I came across your recent statement calling my present activities 'unwise and untimely.' Seldom do I pause to answer criticism of my work and ideas…"
We can be thankful that King took the time to respond to his critics because the letter he composed from jail, where he was imprisoned for protesting without a permit, serves as a powerful affirmation of the rights of all people. Bonhoeffer, as a deeply thoughtful theologian, sometimes uses language that might be difficult for us to fully comprehend. However, this letter speaks to everyone, whether Christian or not. King’s letter was a response to eight local clergymen who published 'A Call for Unity,' urging African-Americans to pursue equal rights through the courts rather than through demonstrations. Dr. King replies calmly and succinctly, outlining why it is impossible for a person of conscience to accept the continuation of injustice. This letter is the most important document for understanding King’s remarkable leadership. If I were oppressed by such injustice, could I respond with the same reason, determination, and forgiveness? But it is not just a message for those personally affected by discrimination—each of us must take responsibility for ensuring the rights of others.
"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."
3. The Consolation of Philosophy Boethius
"While I was quietly reflecting on my thoughts and recording my sorrowful complaints with my pen, it seemed that a woman of remarkable appearance appeared above my head…"
When discussing literary works written in prison, The Consolation of Philosophy undoubtedly claims the top spot, at least in my opinion. Since its publication, this work has had a profound influence. Translated from Latin into English by figures such as King Alfred, Chaucer, and Queen Elizabeth I, the book serves as a cautionary tale to those in power. Boethius had reached the height of power in Rome following the fall of the Western Empire, but unfortunately, he fell out of favor with Theodoric the Great and was imprisoned. This dramatic reversal in fortune prompted Boethius to write this philosophical dialogue between himself and the Goddess Philosophy. Boethius, feeling aggrieved that everything had been taken from him, is guided by Philosophy, who, through a series of questions, encourages him to reflect on whether anything outside himself was ever truly his in the first place. While not everyone finds the words of Philosophy particularly comforting, it remains a cornerstone of Western thought.
2. Le Morte d’Arthur Thomas Malory
"Whosoever pulls this sword from this stone and anvil, is truly the rightful King of all England."
England boasts a rich history of Arthurian legends that have inspired writers for centuries. While imprisoned, Thomas Malory, drawing on French sources, created the most well-known version of the Arthurian tale. Although the exact details of Malory's life remain uncertain, with several potential candidates for his true identity, we do know that this work was composed during his time in prison. Le Morte d’Arthur has given us some of the most iconic images of King Arthur, such as the pulling of the sword from the stone and the Lady of the Lake, her arm emerging from the water, draped in gleaming samite.
1. Prison Epistles Paul
"I, therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the calling you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."
Paul was the first and arguably the most influential Christian theologian. Originally, he was a persecutor of Christians, but after a life-changing encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus, Paul became one of Christianity’s most passionate advocates. His letters were so integral to Christian theology that they were eventually included in the canon of the New Testament. During his mission to spread the belief in Jesus as the Messiah, Paul often caused turmoil. After a confrontation in Jerusalem, he was arrested and imprisoned. While in prison, he wrote several key letters to various Christian communities, including the Colossians, the Ephesians, the Philippians, and Philemon. There has been some scholarly debate about whether Ephesians and Colossians are truly authentic Pauline letters, but they are still recognized by most Christians as part of the canon. Later, Martin Luther carefully studied Paul’s letters, and Pauline theology played a significant role in the Catholic/Protestant schism.
