Nineteen years ago, Erwin James was sentenced to life imprisonment. Over the past five years, he has written powerfully about prison life for the Guardian. The Home Stretch picks up where the enormously popular A Life Inside left off. Like A Life Inside, it does not glorify wrongdoing, nor does it seek to justify the crimes of its author or any other prisoners. However, with one eye to the outside world The Home Stretch sets out to answer some of the questions raised by his first collection of articles. James considers the nature of freedom, and what exactly his life will look like when he is eventually released. He also talks candidly - and with great wit - about the unexpected way the world has changed during his imprisonment. The Home Stretch asks how someone who has been imprisoned for so long deals with a life beyond the prison gates.
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"'What does it say about a man who has done almost twenty years in prison that his writing should be marked by such humanity, compassion and wisdom? Never pleading for himself or pitching for our pity, Erwin James's account of life inside is fascinating not just for its portrait of a harsh and secret world but because in the author we are introduced to a man of rare self-awareness, strength and intelligence.' Ronan Bennett 'Compelling and intelligent prose on life inside' Barbara Amiel, Daily Telegraph 'Like many readers of the Guardian I have been fascinated by your diary... you do a remarkable job of capturing the immense difficulties of long-term Imprisonment and the terrible uncertainty facing lifers' Martin Narey, Director General, HM Prison Service, letter to author"
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
By R. Pryor
Format:Paperback
I have just burned through both Erwin James' books and cannot heap enough praise on his meticulous work. His observations of all the people involved in incarceration - prison staff and prisoners, review boards, education agencies and suchlike - paint a picture of us all as humans at our best and worst. We come to understand how our systems and people can often be cowardly and sometimes courageous - doing the right thing because either way, by doing it or not, life depends on it. As we progress though his last dozen years or so, James' efforts to change become evident through his writing, and I became engrossed in the care he takes to see life and lives as they are, without distortion. It's priceless - James makes no claims about his ideas or writing, yet it is rare to read a perspective so clear and untainted with personal or political agenda. The result is page after page of refreshment, with glimpses into my own capacity for violence, confusion and punishment, that caught me broadside. Time will tell if I remain changed by reading these books, but I hope to. If ever there was a hopeful book about people, for people, this is it.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By Laura Daly
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Paperback
The Home Stretch: From Prison to Parole
Following on his first book and his Guardian articles Erwin James writes of life in open conditions, working and slowly rejoining society. He does it with the same accute and insightful way he wrote the first book. His freedom is nearer but he has some final steps to take and if he slips up it will be back to the closed system. His friends are all in different places some out, some in the Appeal Courts, some not able to handle life outside the closed system. The things we all take for granted he marvels at and after nearly 20 years inside we would too. I found this book intresting, uplifting and engaging. Prisoners are not, nor should be forgotten and just locked up. It is for the good of society that we all take an intrest in what happens behind bars.
Following on his first book and his Guardian articles Erwin James writes of life in open conditions, working and slowly rejoining society. He does it with the same accute and insightful way he wrote the first book. His freedom is nearer but he has some final steps to take and if he slips up it will be back to the closed system. His friends are all in different places some out, some in the Appeal Courts, some not able to handle life outside the closed system. The things we all take for granted he marvels at and after nearly 20 years inside we would too. I found this book intresting, uplifting and engaging. Prisoners are not, nor should be forgotten and just locked up. It is for the good of society that we all take an intrest in what happens behind bars.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Lian
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Superb book and excellent service from Amazon.
Great insight into a prisoners life inside.
Makes you want to keep reading.....superb author without glamourising prison in any way
Great insight into a prisoners life inside.
Makes you want to keep reading.....superb author without glamourising prison in any way
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic
Fantastic book and brilliantly written. Great follow up to Erwin's first book offering an invaluable insight into long term prisoners preparing for release.
Published 1 month ago by Toni
5.0 out of 5 stars
Home Stretch
A REALLY Good read it shows the funny side and the tragic side
of War and Death & the escapes that saved Many an Airman's life.
of War and Death & the escapes that saved Many an Airman's life.
Published 2 months ago by T. Gussmann
5.0 out of 5 stars
A very good read
A very accurate and balanced account of this mans sentence. A man who grew up over the 20 years he did inside,and an insight into prison life that the un-initiated can only guess... Read more
Published 12 months ago by MA Blackman
5.0 out of 5 stars
Inspiring
Both of Erwin James' books are beautifully written, with honesty and without complaint or self pity. Read more
Published on 6 Jan 2010 by J. Thompson
4.0 out of 5 stars
A good read
I agree with the previous review that the first book was better, but both books were good to read and recommended. Read more
Published on 14 Oct 2008 by dmr
4.0 out of 5 stars
get the first book
this is the 2nd book by this author, the 1st was better - this can be a bit boring
Published on 21 Aug 2007 by A. Girvan
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