Prison Life Writing: Conversion and the Literary Roots of the U.S. Prison System - Paperback

by Simon Rolston (Author)

Prison Life Writing is the first full-length study of one of the most controversial genres in American literature. By exploring the complicated relationship between life writing and institutional power, this book reveals the overlooked aesthetic innovations of incarcerated people and the surprising literary roots of the U.S. prison system.

Author Biography

Simon Rolston specializes in American literature. His work has been published in journals like American Studies, Critical Survey, and MELUS, and his article, "Shame and the Ex-Convict," was awarded the Canadian Association of American Studies' Ernest Redekop prize for 2018. He teaches at Langara College, in British Columbia.