Product Description

n July 19, 2001, after a perjury conviction, Jeffrey Archer -international bestselling author, now known as Prisoner FF 8282-was sentenced to four years in prison and spent the first twenty-two days in HMP Belmarsh, a high-security prison in South London that houses some of Britain's most violent criminals. During those three weeks, Archer contemplates suicide; his mother dies, and a hundred photographers follow him when he's allowed out to attend her funeral; he's moved to death row because it's the only place with enough security to protect him, a high-profile prisoner; his cellmate sells a story to the tabloids, prompting Archer's move to solitary; and prisoners and guards routinely line up outside his cell to ask him to sign books or to ask for advice about their own writing. A Prison Diary is his unforgettable account of these events.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #467194 in Books
• Published on: 2003-07-15
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 288 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Convicted of perjury in 2001, Archer, a bestselling novelist (Sons of Fortune) and member of the British House of Lords, penned this memoir about his first three weeks in prison, focusing on his daily life, the prisoners' lives and the state of the British penal system. An old hand at plotting novels and developing stories, Archer moves his memoir at a captivating pace, a credit to his storytelling skills considering the book's characters are in their cells for 22 hours a day. Deftly using mundane hour logs, he relates the slow passage of time without falling into the trap of recounting events minute by minute. Knowing that his story as a wealthy, educated celebrity with high-powered attorneys pales in comparison, Archer focuses on the sad, strange and even silly tales of his fellow inmates, a cast of hardened criminals and smalltime crooks. Concentrating on others also serves to help Archer avoid extended fits of melodramatic and self-serving prose (as when he compares himself to Oscar Wilde), which occur when he writes about his own case. But balancing this small flaw with his humorous descriptions of prison food and listening to a cricket match that seems as long as his four-year sentence adds a needed bit of humanity to this controversial politician. Of course, some of Archer's observations and the inmates' tales can't be taken as gospel since Archer is a convicted perjurer and his secondhand stories come from the mouths of murderers and other felons. But those caveats do not override the strong narrative and good writing that make this memoir an intriguing and engaging version of the often-trite prison journal.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Customer Reviews

Light at the end of the tunnel for Archer...
That's how I would describe this book. Archer, upper middle class, MP, Deputy Chairman of the Tories finally faced the music when he was sentenced for obstruction of justice.

Whether he is guilty or not doesn't really matter as there will always be two sides to the coin. What is interesting however is that Archer, who have had a very comfortable life prior to his sentence was placed into the prison. All of a sudden, a free man to a convict.

The book simply describes his life in the prison. His daily routines and little things that happen each day. Though it may sound boring, it was actually a plesant read.

I often imagined what it was like to be in his shoes and whether I could handle what he was going through.

Do not expect the book to be one of his masterpiece with plots. This is a simple book about a man who enjoyed all the best in life and suddenly having all that taken away from him.

He was able to bring to the reader a sense of humour, saddness and curiosity to life in prison. Prior to reading the book, I thought criminals deserve their time... after the book, I wonder whether society has done all it can to accomodate these people.

Whether he is guilty or not I do not know... what I would love to see is that Archer can use this unique experience in helping others who are in need...

Not an Archer fan... but I've just purchased First Among Equals.

An insight into the prison system
Jeffrey Archer gives a great insight into the UK prison systems which is certainly a punishment.

For anybody wishing to learn about prison and have an interest in this subject I highly recommned it. Those fans of Jeffrey Archer or even to those that do not have any interest I recommened this book. It reaffirms that prison are a suitable punishment for crimes however there can be improvements.

Read this first book and a I guarantee you will get hooked and read all 3 that will be published.

Superbly narrated by Martin Jarvis
Jeffrey Archer was elected to the British House of Commons in 1969 and was appointed Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party in 1985. He was elevated to the House of Lords in 1992. On July 19, 2001, Jeffrey archer (an internationally known and best selling author as well) was sentenced to four years in prison for perjury. He became Prisoner FF8282 and spent the first 22 days of his sentence in a high-security British prison. Archer was moved to the Lifer's wing for the security it provided and became a trusted confidant for fellow convicts (his cellmate sold a story about him to the British Tabloids). A Prison Diary is Archer's candid account of his life behind bars. Superbly narrated by Martin Jarvis, this highly recommended New Millennium six-cassette audiobook edition is complete and unabridged with a running time of 8 hours.