Looking Outward: A Voice From The Grave

by Robert F. Stroud, Pam Eddings (Editor), Thomas Geddis (Editor)

The Birdman of Alcatraz — Robert Stroud — died 50 years ago behind bars in Springfield's U.S. Medical Center for Federal Prisoners. But his voice is about to be heard...

Genres: History

287 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 19, 2013

Reviews

[Rex Hurst · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the prison memoir of Robert F. Stroud, the famous Birdman of Alcatraz - probably the most famous prisoner in the history of the United States. Considering that Stroud died in 1963, this publication is long overdue. This book is on the Federal prison system in the United States, its history and development, focusing specifically on his first two places of incarceration: Leavenworth and McNeil Island. He gives detailed accounts of their history, their policies, the type of men who ran them, food, work, and other daily routines. He also gives various anecdotes of things he witnessed while imprisoned. Violence and homosexuality are discussed in a matter of fact notion. His views on it are that if a man in confined to a place where there are nothing but men, it is a natural occurrence. He also mentions the practice was common enough in rural Alaska where the ratio of men to women was 25 to 1. All in all, it is an interesting first hand read of a prison system that has become defunct.

While many of the facts check out, Stroud himself is quite an unreliable narrator. First, as he readily admits, most of the information comes from memory, but he also admits when he cannot remember a fact or might be misremembering it. Secondly, he often recounts conversations to which he himself was not privy and relies on hearsay to fill in the gaps. Third, as many people around him have pointed out, Stroud was something of a sociopath and narcissist. He constantly refers to himself in the third person as “The Writer” and never admits to making a mistake. He doesn’t dispute his crimes, but only talks about them in flat factual statements. “This is what I did. I have no opinion on it.” In short, he comes across as one of those people who could only thrive in a heavily ordered and structured system like prison.

[John Vanderslice · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a surprisingly engaging and illuminating book, part of a planned series of releases from a large manuscript that Robert Stroud wrote decades ago. The manuscript was originally intended to be a history of the penal system in America--and there is some of that in this volume, the first of the series to be released--but really what Stroud can do best, and probably should have focused on, is his own story, his own recollections of the specific prisons where he was kept. Once he gives up the wider lens and focuses on the daily life at and the memorable people from the prisons he knew best--McNeil Island in Washington and Leavenworth in Kansas--the book becomes remarkably personal and incredibly valuable. It's really interesting to read about the wardens he lived under, and their particular way of making or bending rules. As always, he has a wry and extremely opinionated take on what works and doesn't at a prison, what's typical and what isn't in the life of a prisoner, who was a scoundrel and who wasn't, but this personal and opinionated voice is exactly what makes the book so interesting and unusual. You really feel like you are getting to know the man. That said, I can understand why the Federal Prison Bureau refused to permit the publishing of this book for decades. Stroud has some mighty negative things to say about certain people and certain institutions, among them the Federal Prison Bureau. Point of note: from what I've heard, most of his criticisms are still valid, decades later.

[David Yu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written. The writer did an awesome job of being very descriptive

I highly recommend this boom for those that love history. Especially if you are into the birdman Robert Stroud .