When Caspar Walsh was three years old his father became his primary carer. But Caspar's father wasn't classic dad material. He robbed banks, he dealt drugs and made his living from deception and violence. He loved his son but not enough to change his criminal lifestyle. Despite all this Caspar trusted him, loved him and looked up to him. When he grew up, he wanted to be just like his dad. Caspar got what he wanted. CRIMINAL is the harrowing story of a wild childhood punctuated by drugs, violence, sexual abuse and the frequent absences of a father in prison. It's the story of how Caspar inevitably became part of his father's world: doing drugs, dealing drugs, doing time. And how, eventually, as a young man, Caspar dragged himself out of the gutter, out of prison and out of crime and made the decision to rehabilitate himself and, by coming full circle to work with offenders, help change the lives of others like him.
Criminal
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'An extraordinary autobiography. Vibrantly written with one of the most compelling characters in Caspar's father that I've come across in a long time. It's a masterful portrayal of the two sides of a man and demonstrayes with absolute clarity how confusing love can be within an abusive relationship'
(Minette Walters )'This is a fine, unsparing book... If you want to understand why our prisons are bulging, and where some hope for the future may lie, read this book. Caspar strips his own life back to the bone'
(Helen Dunmore )'A surprisingly touching, beautifully written tale... While peppered with hair-raising accounts of scrapes with the cops, violence and abuse, Criminal never loses its sense of optimism'
(News of the World )About the Author
Caspar Walsh is a regular writer for Radio 4, with broadcasts including the sixties gangster story Vincent Vices Rainbow and the acclaimed feature-length docudrama The Prison Father, which was based on his own experience of prison life. He regularly runs writing workshops both in and out of prisons that help offending fathers and their families in the rehabilitation process.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This true story of a terrible childhood makes compelling reading. I am amazed that Caspar Walsh survived it all and has come through it without bitterness. The book is beautifully written, shocking and uncomfortable to read at times but I couldn't put it down and would thoroughly recommend it.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Nick T
Format:Paperback
I came across this book by chance after reading an article in the Guardian about Summerhill - the experimental school in East Anglia where children are allowed to make their own rules. Intriguingly, Caspar Walsh was quoted at length as one of the few people to have been expelled from the most free-range educational establishment in Britain. When I read his book, I understood why.
Raised into a life of crime and drug addiction by his charismatic father, Caspar looked destined to follow him to jail. Using sparse, compelling language he lays out his gradual descent into depression and addictive behaviour, all of it on some level fuelled by the search for love and approval by the man who should have been shielding him from danger rather than exposing him to it. It's searingly honest stuff, addictively readable without ever wallowing in the wrongs that have been done to him. Indeed, as the book goes on I found a deep respect for a man who has evidently learned to take responsibility - and turn a very rough start into a life-changing mission to other young offenders.
If anything, I felt the book ended too soon. I could gladly have read much more about the psychological process by which Caspar has learned to overcome his demons, as I think many of us (particularly men) would benefit hugely from his wisdom. I know that Caspar Walsh now does superb work giving imprisoned men the kind of mentoring and support he sorely lacked. Perhaps scope for a follow up book, unpacking some of those themes? I'd buy it in a flash.
So thankyou Caspar for tapping into a lot of pain for the ultimate enlightenment of others. This is both a wonderful book and an unflinching act of generosity and courage.
Raised into a life of crime and drug addiction by his charismatic father, Caspar looked destined to follow him to jail. Using sparse, compelling language he lays out his gradual descent into depression and addictive behaviour, all of it on some level fuelled by the search for love and approval by the man who should have been shielding him from danger rather than exposing him to it. It's searingly honest stuff, addictively readable without ever wallowing in the wrongs that have been done to him. Indeed, as the book goes on I found a deep respect for a man who has evidently learned to take responsibility - and turn a very rough start into a life-changing mission to other young offenders.
If anything, I felt the book ended too soon. I could gladly have read much more about the psychological process by which Caspar has learned to overcome his demons, as I think many of us (particularly men) would benefit hugely from his wisdom. I know that Caspar Walsh now does superb work giving imprisoned men the kind of mentoring and support he sorely lacked. Perhaps scope for a follow up book, unpacking some of those themes? I'd buy it in a flash.
So thankyou Caspar for tapping into a lot of pain for the ultimate enlightenment of others. This is both a wonderful book and an unflinching act of generosity and courage.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By R. Manley
Format:Hardcover
A deeply impressive book with well-rounded and articulate characters. Reads like good fiction and is all the more horrific, at times, for it. There is a brutal honesty that sometimes struck me as being unnecessary. However, much of the book is obviously born out of therapy and what you get is the real deal. Highly recommended. Deserves a wide readership.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Chelli
Format:Hardcover
This is the fascinating story of a boy born into a life of drugs and crime which he becomes personally involved in from an unusually young age thanks to his unconventional criminal dad. His wild and crazy childhood is quite shocking and it's an absolute miracle he ever turned his life around after such a start to life.
But Caspar definitely has a real talent for writing. His vivid and detailed descriptions are written as though they only just happened, and his accounts are brutally honest and very revealing about the world of drug addicts.
But Caspar definitely has a real talent for writing. His vivid and detailed descriptions are written as though they only just happened, and his accounts are brutally honest and very revealing about the world of drug addicts.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By D. Smith
Format:Hardcover
I couldn't put this down and finished it in just three days.
Anyone who believes that drugs and "heroin-chic" are glamorous, should read this to see what it's actually like to be a junkie. Reads like a good novel but no-one would believe it if you made this stuff up... All the more harrowing for being true.
What really hit me was when I realised that this guy is exactly the same age as me. In 1988 I turned 21 and was already having the time of my life working in the bars and on the beaches of Spain. Caspar Walsh was being admitted to Rehab on his 21st birthday.
I'm not ashamed to admit I cried at the end of this book; I was just so happy that he'd turned his life around. Ultimately very uplifting and shows that if someone can come from this sort of background and come out ok, then anything is possible.
Read it and if you have older kids then this should be on every teenager's reading list.
Anyone who believes that drugs and "heroin-chic" are glamorous, should read this to see what it's actually like to be a junkie. Reads like a good novel but no-one would believe it if you made this stuff up... All the more harrowing for being true.
What really hit me was when I realised that this guy is exactly the same age as me. In 1988 I turned 21 and was already having the time of my life working in the bars and on the beaches of Spain. Caspar Walsh was being admitted to Rehab on his 21st birthday.
I'm not ashamed to admit I cried at the end of this book; I was just so happy that he'd turned his life around. Ultimately very uplifting and shows that if someone can come from this sort of background and come out ok, then anything is possible.
Read it and if you have older kids then this should be on every teenager's reading list.
By emma
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Very well written. Easy to fall in love with Casper, the author, and gives the reader a real understanding of why some people in our society turn out and do things others would not. Casper does not shy away FROM THE NITTY GRIITY TRUTH
By hendog
Format:Paperback
i experienced many things whilst reading this book - shock and sadness to start followed by identification and inspiration. the book is very well written which only adds to it's powerful effect. this book is a must read.
Format:Paperback
After struggling with my addiction and the getting clean, I was desperate for some guidence, direction. I came across Caspars Book and like many reviews I read it in one sitting, It saved my life after coming close to giving up. Caspar pulls no punches nor sugar coats his story. Its a true to life story that I found to be exact to the painful story that is Addiction, be it alcohol, drugs etc etc. If anyone needs a push in the right direction or a good account of that experience than this book is it! Its that good I think it should be used while in treatment as it talks the talk and for sure walks it. I shall reccomend this book to my service provider or anyone who wants too understand what is going on during there journey or there loved ones. Hope it helps like it did for me, Thank you Casper, Mark Hall
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
book for course
I have not read this yet but i am very much looking forward to it as it was recommended to me by my lecturer.....and again thank you for the speedy delivery.
Published 5 months ago by michaelfarrell
5.0 out of 5 stars
Superb, accurate and gripping.
I picked up this book in a bookshop, and read the odd paragraph..then started from page one.... an hour passed,the shop had to shut. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Oakleaf
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant
Brilliant nitty gritty reading but utimately hopeful. i will give it to my son to read as he has a problem with recreational drug use and I hope that this book will give him hope... Read more
Published 6 months ago by C. E. Cooper
5.0 out of 5 stars
How easy
And how almost accidental it can be for a child to end up as a drug addict.
Despite the drugs around him Caspar tells his story in a waywhich shows the amount of love... Read more
Despite the drugs around him Caspar tells his story in a waywhich shows the amount of love... Read more
Published 14 months ago by karen bennett
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing book - very gripping
I ended up buying this book when I was looking to buy another book on amazon as another customer said it was one of the best books they had ever read and they were right. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Faye
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant!
Read this while on holiday a few year back, absolutely excellent book. Tells the real story behind drugs and crime within the UK. Brilliantly wrote, brilliantly entertaining.... Read more
Published on 17 May 2011 by StevenRankin
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant read
Criminal is a gripping true story of how a young boy becomes hooked on drugs due to his fathers criminal way of life in consuming and dealing in drugs - I love true stories and... Read more
Published on 20 Dec 2010 by Richard
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