The Complete Parkhurst Tales: Behind the Locked Gates of Britain's Toughest Jails

by Norman Parker, Frank Delaney (Introduction)

Revealing the secret world of one of Britain's highest security jails as no one on the outside could possibly imagine, Norman Parker has spent over half his life in prison. He was released from prison after 23 continuous years in prison. From his arrival in Parkhurst in the early 1970s as a category-A prisoner, he mixed with some of Britain's hardest cases. Parkhurst is immensely tough. But Norman Parker has one special quality that helped sustain him there - he is a natural observer of the human condition. There at close quarters he gangsters, such as Reg and Ron Kray and Eddie Richardson; armed robbers, including Great Train Robber Buster Edwards; characters such as Billy G, a well-known London club owner who went robbing with John McVicar; and "Lambo" Rony Lambrianou of the Krays, as well as a host of others who would prove that Parkhurst itself was such a dangerous place that you had to watch out for your life.

354 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 16, 1995

About the author

Norman Parker served twenty-four years in multiple prisons across the UK, including the notorious HMP Parkhurst, after being convicted of murder in 1970. While incarcerated, Parker spent long periods of time in solitary confinement. He studied and gained an honours Open University degree, and published Parkhurst Tales based on his experiences in the prison. It became a best-seller, and he has published similar books depicting life in prison. In 2003, he gained a masters degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice from Surrey University.

Reviews

[Geraldine]

Eye-opening, horrifying and realistic.

There does exist an underworld. We just don't know about it.

[L (Lawliet) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A chilling insight into Norman Parker's experience in one of Britains most notorious prisons. For an ex-armed robber, this retelling of his time spent in HMS Parkhurst is really well written. He describes the sights and sounds of his surroundings enough to make you feel like your in there with him, which makes you feel for him even more.
Don't get me wrong. I'm not condoning the things these men have done, but find it fascinating to read about the consequences they have to face, from the actions they've taken. I especially like this era in 60's-70's England when bank robberies and gangland violence was rife.
The high point was reading about the infamous Kray twins when they were sent there after their gangster rule over the east end of London.

Overall this is undoubtedly one of the better books I've read in the true crime and prison genre. I read this quite a few years ago now, but the images of these tales are still etched into my mind.

[Trevor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some interesting tales of life behind bars in Parkhurst.

[Michael Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must read

[mike smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

Enjoyed reading it was true to the word parkhurst like most jails not good places this book has been thoughrly thought about before writing