Prison literature

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Prison literature is a literary genre characterized by literature that is written while the author is confined in a location against his will, such as a prison, jail or house arrest.

Some notable historical examples of prison literature include Boethius's Consolation of Philosophy (524 AD) which has been described as “by far the most interesting example of prison literature the world has ever seen.” ^[1] Hugo Grotius wrote his Commentaries while in prison. Miguel de Cervantes was held captive as a galley slave between 1575-80 and from this he drew inspiration for his novel Don Quixote (1605). Sir Walter Raleigh compiled his History of the World, Volume 1 in a prison chamber in the Tower of London, but he was only able to complete Volume 1 before he was executed. John Bunyan wrote The Pilgrim's Progress (1678) while in jail. Martin Luther translated the New Testament into German while held at Wartburg Castle.

A number of postcolonial texts have been published based on the author's experiences in prison. Nigerian author Chris Abani’s book of poetry Kalakuta Republic is based on his experiences in prison. Pramoedya Ananta Toer wrote the Buru Quartet while in prison in Indonesia. Kenya author Ngugi wa Thiong'o's prison diary Detained was published in 1981.

Postcolonial novels that might also be considered prison literature are the following. Nigerian author Ken Saro-Wiwa, executed while in prison, wrote Sozaboy about a naïve young soldier who is imprisoned. South African author Alex LaGuma’s In the Fog of the Season's End is about a jailed black dissident. Derek Walcott’s Dream on Monkey Mountain takes place in a prison, as does Nawal El Saadawi's Woman at Point Zero.

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