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A Prison Diary #2
A Prison Diary Volume II: Purgatory
"On 9th August 2001, twenty-two days after Jeffrey Archer was sentenced to four years in prison for perjury, he was transferred from HMP Belmarsh, a double-A Category high-security prison in south London, to HMP Wayland, a Category C establishment in Norfolk. He served sixty-seven days in Wayland and during that time, as this account testifies, encountered not only the daily degradations of a dangerously over-stretched prison service, but the spirit and courage of his fellow inmates . . .
Prison Diary Volume II: Purgatory is an extraordinary work of non-fiction, where Archer reveals what life is like inside the walls of Britain's prisons."
Prison Diary Volume II: Purgatory is an extraordinary work of non-fiction, where Archer reveals what life is like inside the walls of Britain's prisons."
320 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2010
270 people are currently reading
2037 people want to read
About the author
Jeffrey Archer
656 books12.4k followersJeffrey is published in 114 countries and more than 47 languages, with more than 750,000 5* reviews with international sales passing 275 million copies.
He is the only author ever to have been a number one bestseller in fiction (nineteen times), short stories (four times) and non-fiction (The Prison Diaries).
Jeffrey has been married for 53 years to Dame Mary Archer DBE. They have two sons, William and James, three grandsons and two granddaughters, and divide their time between homes in London, Cambridge and Mallorca.
He is the only author ever to have been a number one bestseller in fiction (nineteen times), short stories (four times) and non-fiction (The Prison Diaries).
Jeffrey has been married for 53 years to Dame Mary Archer DBE. They have two sons, William and James, three grandsons and two granddaughters, and divide their time between homes in London, Cambridge and Mallorca.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 154 reviews
October 11, 2024
This book covers Archer's 68 day stay as a C-category prisoner at HMP Wayland Prison, Norfolk, and I think that this book tells as much about Archer the person as prison life.
At Wayland, Archer finds himself surrounded by a group of inmates/friends whom the cynic in me rather suspects are attracted to him by his fame and wealth. Archer is easily able to afford to have money sent to these 'friends', in order to make his incarceration more "comfortable", in from the outside. But he describes these 'friends' with a great affection that shows both sides in a somewhat pleasant light. Archer comes across as a complex character. On one hand he is a nice guy who shows an understanding for the plight of the men who surround him but on the other hand the arrogant man who was used to mixing with "important" people is never far away. Archer still holds himself aloof from his fellow inmates.
The regime at Wayland is much more relaxed than the one that Archer experienced at Belmarsh but this volume still gives some valuable insight into prison life. We get to see some of the many rules and restrictions that control both the prisoners and the warders daily lives, but also some of the reasons why they are in place. We get a glimpse at just WHO should get a prison sentence and HOW the prison conditions could be improved to serve both prisoners and society better. We also get a fair amount of repetition.
On the whole I found this an interesting, insightful and thought provoking book written from a unique perspective but once again I cannot help but feel that Archer's fame or perhaps notoriety means that his experiences were atypical.
At Wayland, Archer finds himself surrounded by a group of inmates/friends whom the cynic in me rather suspects are attracted to him by his fame and wealth. Archer is easily able to afford to have money sent to these 'friends', in order to make his incarceration more "comfortable", in from the outside. But he describes these 'friends' with a great affection that shows both sides in a somewhat pleasant light. Archer comes across as a complex character. On one hand he is a nice guy who shows an understanding for the plight of the men who surround him but on the other hand the arrogant man who was used to mixing with "important" people is never far away. Archer still holds himself aloof from his fellow inmates.
The regime at Wayland is much more relaxed than the one that Archer experienced at Belmarsh but this volume still gives some valuable insight into prison life. We get to see some of the many rules and restrictions that control both the prisoners and the warders daily lives, but also some of the reasons why they are in place. We get a glimpse at just WHO should get a prison sentence and HOW the prison conditions could be improved to serve both prisoners and society better. We also get a fair amount of repetition.
On the whole I found this an interesting, insightful and thought provoking book written from a unique perspective but once again I cannot help but feel that Archer's fame or perhaps notoriety means that his experiences were atypical.
October 3, 2019
The first volume of Archer's prison diaries was very intense.Volume II takes him from the hell of Belmarsh prison to a medium security prison.Things are still bad,but not as bad as at Belmarsh.Many of the stories of his fellow inmates are fairly compelling.
December 1, 2019
After a few weeks in the hell of Belmarsh, Archer is moved to Wayland, a medium security prison as a temporary measure before he can reach the joys of an open prison. He finds the food at Wayland to be every bit as bad and some of the prisoners to be every bit as dangerous, though there were improved gym facilities and less time being locked up. I found the number of cell changes in such a short time to be interesting-constant changing of cellmates, double to singe cells, changing floors etc. I suppose it did break up the routine a bit but it must have been a bit unsettling. The food sounds dreadful again and thr rules for what you can and can't have sent in depends on your status and sometimes on who is searching your cell. The rules of backgammon in book form or gifts of books is not allowed but the public can donate to the prison library.
I liked seeing how prisoners get around some rules and how most guards turn a blind eye to minor issues, which makes sense. I learned a lot about drug culture in prison as well as emerald smuggling in Columbia! Again there were the fascinating stories of the prisoners-how they got locked up, what they do with their time and their hopes for when they are released. The day to day life behind bars shows the menace always lurking but also the humour and compassion too. Archer is still planning an appeal and waiting for the police investigation to close so that he can return to D-Cat status and get to an Open Prison. I can understand his frustration with the situation. It was also fascinating to see the Tory Leadership contest and the events of 9/11 as seen through the eyes of the prisoners. I noted with interest than Archer indicated that Blair saw the War on Terror as his Falklands War (the Falklands War victory elevated Thatcher's popularity and ensured her a second election victory) but Archer was astute in commenting that he hoped it didn't instead prove to be Blair's Vietnam instead, which of course is exactly what it ended up being. This was another fascinating, detailed look at the daily events in prison and I very much enjoyed it. Sadly my ebook version of Heaven is not opening so I need to wait a while to get my hands on the concluding part!
I liked seeing how prisoners get around some rules and how most guards turn a blind eye to minor issues, which makes sense. I learned a lot about drug culture in prison as well as emerald smuggling in Columbia! Again there were the fascinating stories of the prisoners-how they got locked up, what they do with their time and their hopes for when they are released. The day to day life behind bars shows the menace always lurking but also the humour and compassion too. Archer is still planning an appeal and waiting for the police investigation to close so that he can return to D-Cat status and get to an Open Prison. I can understand his frustration with the situation. It was also fascinating to see the Tory Leadership contest and the events of 9/11 as seen through the eyes of the prisoners. I noted with interest than Archer indicated that Blair saw the War on Terror as his Falklands War (the Falklands War victory elevated Thatcher's popularity and ensured her a second election victory) but Archer was astute in commenting that he hoped it didn't instead prove to be Blair's Vietnam instead, which of course is exactly what it ended up being. This was another fascinating, detailed look at the daily events in prison and I very much enjoyed it. Sadly my ebook version of Heaven is not opening so I need to wait a while to get my hands on the concluding part!
April 27, 2014
Although a daily account of life in a British prison does not sound terribly exciting, when the author is Jeffrey Archer, his dry wit had me chuckling throughout! He is a great fiction author, and unlike some fiction authors who don't translate well into non-fiction, his record of his time spent as a guest of Her Majesty is just so well done.
The insight into the idiosyncracies and foibles (and sometimes, downright sheer idiocy) of the British prison system is very amusing, but from Lord Archer's point of view could certainly be frustrating.
I read and enjoyed Hell and this one is no less well-written.
The insight into the idiosyncracies and foibles (and sometimes, downright sheer idiocy) of the British prison system is very amusing, but from Lord Archer's point of view could certainly be frustrating.
I read and enjoyed Hell and this one is no less well-written.
October 3, 2012
I read this book in 24 hours, it was that good. A continuation of his first prison diary: Hell, this covers his time spent in a slightly less horrible prison. Again, his telling of his fellow inmates' stories are so compelling and personal. It offers a fascinating look inside prison life.
February 27, 2015
هذا هو الجزء الثاني من ثلاثية مذكرات السجن ، فبعد ان انبهرت بالأول عندما دخل السجن لأول مرة قرأت هذا. وهو قد انتقل الى سجن آخر فيه الإقامة أطول ولكنها كانت إقامة مريحة نسبياً ولذا جاءت الإثارة أقل
ليس كسابقه من ناحية المتعة والتشويق ولكن عندما يكون الكاتب جيفري آرشر لا تُعدم فائدة وطرافة وكتابة راقية. يبدو أنه رغم المعاناة والحرمان في السجن فقد حافظ على ايجابيته وروح الفكاهة
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
فيه معلومات عامة عن السجن وعن أحوال الناس المتعلقين بالكاتب في تلك الفترة والتي وجدت فيها خصوصية مرافقة لشخص في رحلته الغريبة في السجن
وفيه رتابة حين يقول قمت صباحاً ومارست الكتابة وتناولت الإفطار ثم رياضة ثم عودة للزنزانة وهكذا. وكسر هذه الرتابة بذكره لأمور تحدث في السجن وحوارات ومشاريع ولكن كل شيء سطحي. ولعله لاحظ ذلك فبدأ في النصف الثاني بعرض يومياته بطريقة أسرع ويذكر فيه الأمور الأهم فقط
بشكل عام الكتاب جيّد ولم أندم على قراءته ويستحق بسهولة أربع نجوم ولكن ضعف المحتوى جعلها ثلاثاً. ولا يلم الكاتب في ذلك ففي السجن هناك الرتابة والملل فقط وهذه المئكرات انجاز كبير
ليس كسابقه من ناحية المتعة والتشويق ولكن عندما يكون الكاتب جيفري آرشر لا تُعدم فائدة وطرافة وكتابة راقية. يبدو أنه رغم المعاناة والحرمان في السجن فقد حافظ على ايجابيته وروح الفكاهة
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
فيه معلومات عامة عن السجن وعن أحوال الناس المتعلقين بالكاتب في تلك الفترة والتي وجدت فيها خصوصية مرافقة لشخص في رحلته الغريبة في السجن
وفيه رتابة حين يقول قمت صباحاً ومارست الكتابة وتناولت الإفطار ثم رياضة ثم عودة للزنزانة وهكذا. وكسر هذه الرتابة بذكره لأمور تحدث في السجن وحوارات ومشاريع ولكن كل شيء سطحي. ولعله لاحظ ذلك فبدأ في النصف الثاني بعرض يومياته بطريقة أسرع ويذكر فيه الأمور الأهم فقط
بشكل عام الكتاب جيّد ولم أندم على قراءته ويستحق بسهولة أربع نجوم ولكن ضعف المحتوى جعلها ثلاثاً. ولا يلم الكاتب في ذلك ففي السجن هناك الرتابة والملل فقط وهذه المئكرات انجاز كبير
August 19, 2023
Wat een verhaal en hoe dom kunnen sommige regels binnen een systeem zijn. Wellicht was het wel goed voor de samenleving in Engeland dat er eens een inside story kwam. Gauw door naar deel 3!
February 17, 2022
Oh dear, I probably should have stopped after the first book in the trilogy! Even the great narrator couldn't make it better for me unfortunately. Okay, I know it's a diary, but the diary of Samuel Pepys was not this monotonous! If course prison is relentless and structured, but the repeated dates, food (which was also repetitive and bland), exercise...zzz... I won't be reading the third.
December 31, 2021
4 Stars
Purgatory (A Prison Diary Book #2) by Jeffrey Archer.....
Full review to come.....
Purgatory (A Prison Diary Book #2) by Jeffrey Archer.....
Full review to come.....
January 26, 2022
Audiobook
July 6, 2025
Truth is stranger than fiction - right Jeffrey?
March 12, 2024
***Enjoyable and informative***
Yet again, I find myself understanding people who I would never meet in my normal walk of life. Archer has a brilliantly comprehensive story-telling technique without compromising any element of seriousness or humor. I particularly enjoyed the illustrations completed by another fellow prisoner of what the other prisoners looked like during his time at HMP Wayland. Dale "Big Mac" looked exactly how I thought he would. Although Volume 2: Purgatory was not as dark as Volume 1: Hell, I found myself equally immersed in the world of prison enrichment activities. Pottery. Gardening. Cleaning. It was also interesting to know that according to a conversation Archer had with a probation officer, the worst type of criminal was not in fact a rapist or murderer, but serial burglars because they show absolutely no remorse for what they have done and therefore are impossible to rehabilitate. Even though this is a real life account of what happened to Archer, it feels like a fictional story which shows that this man has led a really interesting life. I can't wait to finish the third and final volume of 'A Prison Diary'.
Yet again, I find myself understanding people who I would never meet in my normal walk of life. Archer has a brilliantly comprehensive story-telling technique without compromising any element of seriousness or humor. I particularly enjoyed the illustrations completed by another fellow prisoner of what the other prisoners looked like during his time at HMP Wayland. Dale "Big Mac" looked exactly how I thought he would. Although Volume 2: Purgatory was not as dark as Volume 1: Hell, I found myself equally immersed in the world of prison enrichment activities. Pottery. Gardening. Cleaning. It was also interesting to know that according to a conversation Archer had with a probation officer, the worst type of criminal was not in fact a rapist or murderer, but serial burglars because they show absolutely no remorse for what they have done and therefore are impossible to rehabilitate. Even though this is a real life account of what happened to Archer, it feels like a fictional story which shows that this man has led a really interesting life. I can't wait to finish the third and final volume of 'A Prison Diary'.
April 24, 2020
Second in the series of Archer's Prison Diaries. A perfect bridge between the first and third diaries.
It starts at the day of his arrival at Wayland, a C-cat prison, from Belmarsh. He describes this as a movement from Hell to Purgatory, an attempt to absolve himself of the sins before he moves on to Heaven - hopefully a D-cat prison.
The book follows the exact same tone as the first one, full of surprising experiences, critical commentaries and descriptive evaluations. He makes the added effort to identify, categorize and characterize the kind of convicts one may encounter in prison, the distinctness of their experiences, life stories and future prospects.
Archer is sympathetic throughout, understanding that he is vocal from a privileged position not available to most. At the same time, he is made aware of the seemingly gross injustice done against him. The relative freedom allows him to get on with some creative dramas and pursuits which add flavour to the otherwise monotonous life.
It starts at the day of his arrival at Wayland, a C-cat prison, from Belmarsh. He describes this as a movement from Hell to Purgatory, an attempt to absolve himself of the sins before he moves on to Heaven - hopefully a D-cat prison.
The book follows the exact same tone as the first one, full of surprising experiences, critical commentaries and descriptive evaluations. He makes the added effort to identify, categorize and characterize the kind of convicts one may encounter in prison, the distinctness of their experiences, life stories and future prospects.
Archer is sympathetic throughout, understanding that he is vocal from a privileged position not available to most. At the same time, he is made aware of the seemingly gross injustice done against him. The relative freedom allows him to get on with some creative dramas and pursuits which add flavour to the otherwise monotonous life.
November 14, 2023
JA moved from Cat A to Cat C Wayland prison in Norfolk. We read of his integration into this prison with moving into a cell on the enhanced spur within 3 weeks.
Much made of the daily routine & required behaviours enabling prison life to continue on its daily grind hampered by a shortage of staff.
Accounts too of JA’s involvement with other prisoners in securing luxury goods eg additional towels, specialist art equipment for use by a prisoner with artistic flair who created versions of book covers for JA, an emerald, yes an emerald valued around $10,000….showing the stark difference between ‘Lord’ JA & the other men in the street prisoners……
JA continues to write with clear concise detail making this an interesting informative read…
Much made of the daily routine & required behaviours enabling prison life to continue on its daily grind hampered by a shortage of staff.
Accounts too of JA’s involvement with other prisoners in securing luxury goods eg additional towels, specialist art equipment for use by a prisoner with artistic flair who created versions of book covers for JA, an emerald, yes an emerald valued around $10,000….showing the stark difference between ‘Lord’ JA & the other men in the street prisoners……
JA continues to write with clear concise detail making this an interesting informative read…
November 26, 2013
This volume was a little too dry for me. Although his chronicles on prison life is fascinating, I do wonder about the nature of his relationship with his family. The way he talks about them, allocating time to them all feels a bit restricted and dreary. His constant nudges towards his political stand was interesting at first but after a while, it became tedious. The name dropping, the hooded political motives, the not-so-subtle finger pointing simply took over the story in its dull, vise-like grip.
August 7, 2017
Have read two thirds of this but sadly cannot finish it, as am finding it very boring reading about what Jeffrey had for breakfast and lunch, what books he read, what he watched on TV, what sports he followed (yawn) what he did in the gym, etc etc, and about the purchase of some emeralds through another prisoner. I really enjoyed the first book, but should have stopped there. Needless to say I won't be reading the third book.
May 5, 2012
This is the 2nd book in the prison series. Not quite as good as the first. Still telling of the aftermath author Jeffrey Archer, English Lord of Commons, went thru for purgery. He is still at the beginning of a 4 yr term in this book - however it tells of his movement thru the system and who he mets and interacts with along the way. This a a non-fiction series. 3 star (finished)
February 10, 2013
Good. I did notice that he tries to get away with a lot in prison (and successfully), and has never really admitted wrongdoing in the first two books, but it's still a quite interesting look at prisons. I will likely continue on to the third.
March 28, 2020
4,5⭐️ Kicking myself for not bringing the last of the trilogy with me on my holiday - finished this in 1 day! Well, it’s good to have something to look forward to 😊
May 14, 2021
I found the first volume in this trilogy (A Prison Diary,, aka Hell) fascinating and compulsively readable. This volume isn't quite as compulsive, but overall I enjoyed it just as much. It's an aspect of life I have no longing for, but, despite the way Archer continually reminds the reader that a good day overall in prison is still not a good day, his ups and downs were very interesting.
In this volume, Archer has left Belmarsh, the Pelican Bay or San Quentin of England, and is at Wayland, a lower-level prison with fewer murderers and other lifers. Here, as in his time at Belmarsh, Archer makes a lot of friends, which are focused more in this volume. Life in prison is always dangerous to some degree, but it's surprising how things work almost automatically -- people frequently warned Archer about really dangerous people, for instance, or if someone seemed threatening out in the yard, they'd start closing in.
Of course, we can't know how people would treat a stranger, and not a very famous and prolific author of popular fiction, but it's obviously not going to be the same. Still, his story is fascinating, and we hear many other really interesting stories.
This book contains 8 pages of color plates, which are very interesting on several levels (the artist, the people depicted, the quality of the art, etc.).
I had read A Prison Diary before, and the only reason I'm re-reading them is that I gave my sister in California all three books, but she was culling her books and asked if I wanted them back. I realized that I can get them at the library quite easily, so that's what I've done. Re-reading the first volume was just as interesting to me, and although I started the present volume (Purgatory) after I read A Prison Diary the first time, I didn't finish it then. For some reason, it wasn't as compelling. But once I got into it this time, I found it very compelling.
Archer managed to get in excellent shape in the gym; that seems to be a frequent byproduct of prison time. He also got to supervise special needs men in the gym, one of the most satisfying things he did in Wayland. For some reason, even though Belmarsh had him teaching creative writing from the first, at Wayland his offers fell on deaf ears.
There's a lot of sports talk, most of which I didn't understand; ditto with English politics. But all the entries are rather brief, so I didn't skip them. Also, parts about sports within the prison were interesting.
As I often do, I kept a list of books Archer read while in prison, along with shows he watched:
Books/plays he reads:
The Glass Bead Game, by Hermann Hesse
Famous Trials, selected by John Mortimer
Diaries, Alan Clark
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, Jean-Dominique Bauby
The Writers' and Artists' Yearbook, to help a prisoner find an agent
The Basement Room, Graham Greene. ("His description of minor characters is breathtaking in its simplicity and the story, although complex, still demands that you turn the page." (102)
The Man Within, Graham Greene
The Prisons Handbook (guide to jails in England and Wales)
Arts and Artists (reads it during pottery class, which he's bad at, but has to do arts.
Oscar Wilde, biography by Sheridan Morley (can hardly put it down)
Caught in the Light, Robert Goddard
Hamlet
King Lear
Richard II
The Tempest
Henry IV, Part I
Twelfth Night
The book he wrote while in prison (other than this trilogy): Sons of Fortune
Television/Movies: EastEnders, Frasier, Ally McBeal, A Touch of Frost (David Jason), Victoria and Albert, with Nigel Hawthorne, Jonathan Pryce, Peter Ustinov, etc. -- loves it, makes him miss live theater; John Le Mesurier in Dad's Army (unforgettable); David Starkey series on the six wives of Henry VIII; special edition of Question Time, chaired by David Dimbleby; Everyone's Nightmare, w/ Patricia Routledge; Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (got hooked on it); Top Gear, docuymentary on Robbie Williams; French Kiss (Meg Ryan and Kevin Kline); Great Expectations (Gwyneth Paltrow and Robert De Niro (terrible, he said); Persuasion (BBC); House of Cards, Michael Dobbs movie;
Newspapers: The Times (daily), Telegraph (daily), News of the World, the Sunday Mirror
Hymns Sung: He would valiant be, Amazing Grace
Library carries Graham Greene, Stephen King, I, Claudius, Harry Potter, Forsyth, Grisham, Follet, and Jilly Cooper are mentioned, as well as "everything in between."
In this volume, Archer has left Belmarsh, the Pelican Bay or San Quentin of England, and is at Wayland, a lower-level prison with fewer murderers and other lifers. Here, as in his time at Belmarsh, Archer makes a lot of friends, which are focused more in this volume. Life in prison is always dangerous to some degree, but it's surprising how things work almost automatically -- people frequently warned Archer about really dangerous people, for instance, or if someone seemed threatening out in the yard, they'd start closing in.
Of course, we can't know how people would treat a stranger, and not a very famous and prolific author of popular fiction, but it's obviously not going to be the same. Still, his story is fascinating, and we hear many other really interesting stories.
This book contains 8 pages of color plates, which are very interesting on several levels (the artist, the people depicted, the quality of the art, etc.).
I had read A Prison Diary before, and the only reason I'm re-reading them is that I gave my sister in California all three books, but she was culling her books and asked if I wanted them back. I realized that I can get them at the library quite easily, so that's what I've done. Re-reading the first volume was just as interesting to me, and although I started the present volume (Purgatory) after I read A Prison Diary the first time, I didn't finish it then. For some reason, it wasn't as compelling. But once I got into it this time, I found it very compelling.
Archer managed to get in excellent shape in the gym; that seems to be a frequent byproduct of prison time. He also got to supervise special needs men in the gym, one of the most satisfying things he did in Wayland. For some reason, even though Belmarsh had him teaching creative writing from the first, at Wayland his offers fell on deaf ears.
There's a lot of sports talk, most of which I didn't understand; ditto with English politics. But all the entries are rather brief, so I didn't skip them. Also, parts about sports within the prison were interesting.
As I often do, I kept a list of books Archer read while in prison, along with shows he watched:
Books/plays he reads:
The Glass Bead Game, by Hermann Hesse
Famous Trials, selected by John Mortimer
Diaries, Alan Clark
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, Jean-Dominique Bauby
The Writers' and Artists' Yearbook, to help a prisoner find an agent
The Basement Room, Graham Greene. ("His description of minor characters is breathtaking in its simplicity and the story, although complex, still demands that you turn the page." (102)
The Man Within, Graham Greene
The Prisons Handbook (guide to jails in England and Wales)
Arts and Artists (reads it during pottery class, which he's bad at, but has to do arts.
Oscar Wilde, biography by Sheridan Morley (can hardly put it down)
Caught in the Light, Robert Goddard
Hamlet
King Lear
Richard II
The Tempest
Henry IV, Part I
Twelfth Night
The book he wrote while in prison (other than this trilogy): Sons of Fortune
Television/Movies: EastEnders, Frasier, Ally McBeal, A Touch of Frost (David Jason), Victoria and Albert, with Nigel Hawthorne, Jonathan Pryce, Peter Ustinov, etc. -- loves it, makes him miss live theater; John Le Mesurier in Dad's Army (unforgettable); David Starkey series on the six wives of Henry VIII; special edition of Question Time, chaired by David Dimbleby; Everyone's Nightmare, w/ Patricia Routledge; Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (got hooked on it); Top Gear, docuymentary on Robbie Williams; French Kiss (Meg Ryan and Kevin Kline); Great Expectations (Gwyneth Paltrow and Robert De Niro (terrible, he said); Persuasion (BBC); House of Cards, Michael Dobbs movie;
Newspapers: The Times (daily), Telegraph (daily), News of the World, the Sunday Mirror
Hymns Sung: He would valiant be, Amazing Grace
Library carries Graham Greene, Stephen King, I, Claudius, Harry Potter, Forsyth, Grisham, Follet, and Jilly Cooper are mentioned, as well as "everything in between."
March 9, 2019
I really didn't like this book when I first picked it up, but I kept reading because I was nosy. As a probation officer based in the community I don't know as much about prison routines as I'd like to, and that was my interest in reading this. Jeffrey Archer writes plot well enough to keep you wanting to read on, despite nothing much actually happening in this book. If you get half way through and wonder if anything's going to happen, I'll help you out: it's not.
The initial reading experience felt like junk food - not satisfying, not good for you, but difficult to stop. I felt filthy for being drawn into it. Archer turns us all into voyeurs, collecting prisoners' stories with curiosity but little empathy. A couple of days into his account, I'm thinking: I just don't like this man at all. This is someone so out of touch with the real world he gives us a footnote to explain helpfully that in prison, lunch is called "dinner" and supper is called "tea". Thanks, Jeff, I think we're all keeping up. He reflects ruefully on the inefficiencies of the prison system and I'm briefly with him, and then reminds us of his hateful politics and I remember how much I can't stand him again.
At one point he declares that apart from about 20% of prisoners, whom he considers worthy of an attempt at rehabilitation, the prison population is made up of the "genuinely evil" and the "congenitally stupid". One wonders which group he puts himself in. I try and imagine myself sitting across from Lord Archer at my place of work, and whether I could find some empathy for his predicament, same as I do for violent offenders every day, and it's an enormous stretch. I can't agree with his assessment about what brings people to prison, it's so far from my experience of people who commit crime. He has little or no interest in the social circumstances of prisoners and whether that might perhaps be a contributor, which in almost all cases it is. In the meantime he waffles on about his personal concerns - art and jewellery he's trying to acquire for a huge sum of money, and the ways he's found to get round the prison regulations - the little extra innocent items smuggled in on visits - pens, writing paper, doing illicit deals with other prisoners to get extra supplies. All of it reeks of unexamined privilege - a man used to working the system and getting what he wants.
Despite the lack of empathy for others, at times he lays himself bare - we see him disappointed, frustrated, upset, missing his family - but it feels surface-level. There is a feeling of being hard done by - by the judge, by the press, by prison regulations. He seems to accept his fate with equanimity - many difficulties elicit only an eye roll and a footnote. But I felt frustrated. What about considering his own part in things? Where is the regret, the examination of conscience? Like a child on the naughty step, instead of thinking about what he's done, he's busy plotting to shorten his time and trying to blame others for how he ended up there.
Towards the end I find myself reflecting on the couple of Jeffrey Archer novels I've read, and the shallowness of the characters. This book suffers from the same problem, although it occurs to me, it's an autobiography, and surely the purpose is to see things from the subject's point of view. In that respect you cannot say it has failed. It gives a clear picture of a man who doesn't like swearing, values good manners, high culture, and “gentlemanly” behaviour, and patronises those who feel differently. Someone who has little imagination or feeling for what other people are going through (but is quick to get their stories for his book). A man who can't describe a female character without reference to her appearance or charm. Someone, in short, I have no interest in knowing.
But I bumped it up to 4 stars in the end because of a couple of things. Credit where credit is due, I couldn't stop reading, because it was interesting. I learnt a lot about the author, and I was grudgingly impressed at his willingness to show us himself. He caused me to imagine what it might be like to go to prison, when you've never experienced that life before. He got me reflecting on my own opinions, and the purpose of an autobiographical book, and whether or not you have to like the person you’re reading about. Turns out you don’t.
The initial reading experience felt like junk food - not satisfying, not good for you, but difficult to stop. I felt filthy for being drawn into it. Archer turns us all into voyeurs, collecting prisoners' stories with curiosity but little empathy. A couple of days into his account, I'm thinking: I just don't like this man at all. This is someone so out of touch with the real world he gives us a footnote to explain helpfully that in prison, lunch is called "dinner" and supper is called "tea". Thanks, Jeff, I think we're all keeping up. He reflects ruefully on the inefficiencies of the prison system and I'm briefly with him, and then reminds us of his hateful politics and I remember how much I can't stand him again.
At one point he declares that apart from about 20% of prisoners, whom he considers worthy of an attempt at rehabilitation, the prison population is made up of the "genuinely evil" and the "congenitally stupid". One wonders which group he puts himself in. I try and imagine myself sitting across from Lord Archer at my place of work, and whether I could find some empathy for his predicament, same as I do for violent offenders every day, and it's an enormous stretch. I can't agree with his assessment about what brings people to prison, it's so far from my experience of people who commit crime. He has little or no interest in the social circumstances of prisoners and whether that might perhaps be a contributor, which in almost all cases it is. In the meantime he waffles on about his personal concerns - art and jewellery he's trying to acquire for a huge sum of money, and the ways he's found to get round the prison regulations - the little extra innocent items smuggled in on visits - pens, writing paper, doing illicit deals with other prisoners to get extra supplies. All of it reeks of unexamined privilege - a man used to working the system and getting what he wants.
Despite the lack of empathy for others, at times he lays himself bare - we see him disappointed, frustrated, upset, missing his family - but it feels surface-level. There is a feeling of being hard done by - by the judge, by the press, by prison regulations. He seems to accept his fate with equanimity - many difficulties elicit only an eye roll and a footnote. But I felt frustrated. What about considering his own part in things? Where is the regret, the examination of conscience? Like a child on the naughty step, instead of thinking about what he's done, he's busy plotting to shorten his time and trying to blame others for how he ended up there.
Towards the end I find myself reflecting on the couple of Jeffrey Archer novels I've read, and the shallowness of the characters. This book suffers from the same problem, although it occurs to me, it's an autobiography, and surely the purpose is to see things from the subject's point of view. In that respect you cannot say it has failed. It gives a clear picture of a man who doesn't like swearing, values good manners, high culture, and “gentlemanly” behaviour, and patronises those who feel differently. Someone who has little imagination or feeling for what other people are going through (but is quick to get their stories for his book). A man who can't describe a female character without reference to her appearance or charm. Someone, in short, I have no interest in knowing.
But I bumped it up to 4 stars in the end because of a couple of things. Credit where credit is due, I couldn't stop reading, because it was interesting. I learnt a lot about the author, and I was grudgingly impressed at his willingness to show us himself. He caused me to imagine what it might be like to go to prison, when you've never experienced that life before. He got me reflecting on my own opinions, and the purpose of an autobiographical book, and whether or not you have to like the person you’re reading about. Turns out you don’t.
June 22, 2020
While my reading speed is a bit slow (I usually read in my van only in the morning), Archer succeeded in keeping me interested in his daily accounts. Being in prison is not at all easy, and even though the writer adds humor and other lighter remarks to the mix, he often has to remind readers like me that he is in the midst of murderers, burglars, drug-addicts, and other sorts of criminals that could easily inflict grave harm before anyone can stop them.
What I liked in this part was how Wayland, Archer's second prison during his sentence, is a bit more relaxed than Belmarsh. Being the respectable and wise man that he is, Jeffrey manages to earn the respect of most inmates. What's more, he even makes a couple of friends that help make his stay bearable.
One thing that stood out for me, though, was that some people behind bars are actually decent human beings who deserve another chance at life. It is a bit unfair to lose hope on such people when they're making the effort to change, even if it is just by serving their sentence without causing further offenses. Prisons are very unkind, and it is quite easy for people to catch up on bad habits they might have been unaware of outside. There's a lot that needs to be fixed in such parts of cities too.
'A Prison Diary: Purgatory' was a very insightful account of how one might be able to survive in prison with their sanity intact. I am now very excited to read the final part of the series!
What I liked in this part was how Wayland, Archer's second prison during his sentence, is a bit more relaxed than Belmarsh. Being the respectable and wise man that he is, Jeffrey manages to earn the respect of most inmates. What's more, he even makes a couple of friends that help make his stay bearable.
One thing that stood out for me, though, was that some people behind bars are actually decent human beings who deserve another chance at life. It is a bit unfair to lose hope on such people when they're making the effort to change, even if it is just by serving their sentence without causing further offenses. Prisons are very unkind, and it is quite easy for people to catch up on bad habits they might have been unaware of outside. There's a lot that needs to be fixed in such parts of cities too.
'A Prison Diary: Purgatory' was a very insightful account of how one might be able to survive in prison with their sanity intact. I am now very excited to read the final part of the series!
February 3, 2022
These archer diaries are simultaneously a scam and great company. Scam because how he squeezed an entire advance out of his week or two stay in an interim prison on his way to minimal security is beyond me. He got kind of lucky that 9/11 happened and he was able to write some meaty passages from the thinking one does when an international tragedy happens.
My favourite sentence was ‘ It was on days like this when I really wished I wasn’t in prison. ‘ or something to that effect.
In other subplots Jeff teaches some disabled people how to use the gym effectively - it’s heartwarming, Ian Duncan smith is elected leader of the Conservative party and Jeff doesn’t seem to realise how embarrassing that is, and Jeff meets a guy in prison who’s mum knows an artist he likes so he tries to use the connection to purchase an original. It falls through.
The highlights of the book are Jeffs interactions with the other prisoners, a prison contains a vast spectrum of life with people from a broad array of backgrounds. Jeff’s incarcerated pals seem to be broadly more center-right in the lower security join than in the high security one, there they were pretty strongly going for New Labour.
My favourite sentence was ‘ It was on days like this when I really wished I wasn’t in prison. ‘ or something to that effect.
In other subplots Jeff teaches some disabled people how to use the gym effectively - it’s heartwarming, Ian Duncan smith is elected leader of the Conservative party and Jeff doesn’t seem to realise how embarrassing that is, and Jeff meets a guy in prison who’s mum knows an artist he likes so he tries to use the connection to purchase an original. It falls through.
The highlights of the book are Jeffs interactions with the other prisoners, a prison contains a vast spectrum of life with people from a broad array of backgrounds. Jeff’s incarcerated pals seem to be broadly more center-right in the lower security join than in the high security one, there they were pretty strongly going for New Labour.
October 11, 2021
An Intriguing Insight
Volume 2, the continuing diary of Jeffrey Archer's incarceration, does not disappoint. Having had his low D category status changed to a more restrictive C Grade, due to a malicious allegation (?) made by a former colleague, he spends his time hoping for the best but fearing the worst. He strives to adapt to the prison regime, to make friends (allies?)with his fellow inmates whilst at the same time secretly living in fear of attack...as I imagine we all would be if we were in his unfortunate shoes.
Whether you believe him to be guilty or not I found his daily account of life 'banged up' to be somewhat addictive as I followed with interest the journey of Lord Archer and all of his fellow prisoners - some of whom have fully earned their place within the walls and those who have only had the misfortune to take a single wrong step which the law demands they repay with interest.
An intriguing read, the conclusion of which I look forward to reading in Part 3.
Volume 2, the continuing diary of Jeffrey Archer's incarceration, does not disappoint. Having had his low D category status changed to a more restrictive C Grade, due to a malicious allegation (?) made by a former colleague, he spends his time hoping for the best but fearing the worst. He strives to adapt to the prison regime, to make friends (allies?)with his fellow inmates whilst at the same time secretly living in fear of attack...as I imagine we all would be if we were in his unfortunate shoes.
Whether you believe him to be guilty or not I found his daily account of life 'banged up' to be somewhat addictive as I followed with interest the journey of Lord Archer and all of his fellow prisoners - some of whom have fully earned their place within the walls and those who have only had the misfortune to take a single wrong step which the law demands they repay with interest.
An intriguing read, the conclusion of which I look forward to reading in Part 3.
May 19, 2021
This book was my first book picked up by Jeffrey Archer & I was not let down. I didn't know he went to prison, much less that he was 61 when he was sent to prison. Rather than wallowing in self-pity or complaining, he took the time to learn more about how the British prison system works. Gained much enlightenment about how bad the drug problem is. The minds of criminals and the prison hierarchy.
In this one, he's no longer a novice to the inner hierarchies of how the system works, he knows which prisoner to approach for whatever need. He is confident to have written this. And it's about this book and the next that the transition from being polished to letting himself let loose happens.
Now and then, you can see him not angry or surprised or even frustrated at the bureaucracy, just disappointment. Because he already knows what to expect and what to let go.
In this one, he's no longer a novice to the inner hierarchies of how the system works, he knows which prisoner to approach for whatever need. He is confident to have written this. And it's about this book and the next that the transition from being polished to letting himself let loose happens.
Now and then, you can see him not angry or surprised or even frustrated at the bureaucracy, just disappointment. Because he already knows what to expect and what to let go.
January 19, 2022
( Format : Audiobook )
"What took you so long?
Purgatory continues Jeffrey Archer's account of the sentence he served in prison in the early twenty first century and is book two of three. Well written, insightful, sometimes amusing and sometimes far from it, this is a salutary reminder that behind every prison statistic are real persons. Purgatory covers his time in a B category prison, HMP, Weyland following his previous high security starter in an A cat facility.
Narrated beautifully by Jonathan Keeble, his voice perfectly paced and articulated, this is a must read for any crime fiction reader - the other side of the page, so to speak Stories of other inmates are less dramatic than in Hell, book one, but still fascinating.
Recommended.
"What took you so long?
Purgatory continues Jeffrey Archer's account of the sentence he served in prison in the early twenty first century and is book two of three. Well written, insightful, sometimes amusing and sometimes far from it, this is a salutary reminder that behind every prison statistic are real persons. Purgatory covers his time in a B category prison, HMP, Weyland following his previous high security starter in an A cat facility.
Narrated beautifully by Jonathan Keeble, his voice perfectly paced and articulated, this is a must read for any crime fiction reader - the other side of the page, so to speak Stories of other inmates are less dramatic than in Hell, book one, but still fascinating.
Recommended.
December 19, 2019
An interesting look at UK prison life--the grinding routine, the boredom, the occasional scare, the often non-nonsensical rules. I found it interesting that even though Archer has a good dose of elitist attitude, the other prisoners liked him and catered to him. His ability to pay helped--he paid $10,000 for a Christmas present for his wife, and was able to offer $500,000 for a painting--so a few pounds paid out to fellow prisoners didn't stretch his budget.
There was too much cricket, which remains totally incomprehensible.
There was too much cricket, which remains totally incomprehensible.
November 7, 2023
Part 2 is the journey from Hell to Purgatory. As the name suggests the situation gets better for the author.
The second book takes you on a prison journey of how a different world is running parallel to our own. It has a lot of nuances, learnings, insights and keeps you hooked till the end.
My learnings were:
1. If your mind is free and your heart is satisfied, location is a temporary variable.
2. Physical fitness is the starting point or an important part of being emotionally fit.
3. Respect and Kindness is craved by all and doesn’t cost. Spend as much as you can.
#review
The second book takes you on a prison journey of how a different world is running parallel to our own. It has a lot of nuances, learnings, insights and keeps you hooked till the end.
My learnings were:
1. If your mind is free and your heart is satisfied, location is a temporary variable.
2. Physical fitness is the starting point or an important part of being emotionally fit.
3. Respect and Kindness is craved by all and doesn’t cost. Spend as much as you can.
#review
May 31, 2022
I use ratings to decide which books I am going to buy, and I recently decided I am partially responsible for inflating the ratings on books. Either they were 5 star or 1 star. I decided to use the star rating more objectively as follows:
★★★★★ Great book! Can’t wait to read it again (and I will).
★★★★☆ Good book. I am glad I read this.
★★★☆☆ OK book. Nothing special but not bad.
★★☆☆☆ Not good. Why did I waste my time?
★☆☆☆☆ Lousy. I didn’t finish.
★★★★★ Great book! Can’t wait to read it again (and I will).
★★★★☆ Good book. I am glad I read this.
★★★☆☆ OK book. Nothing special but not bad.
★★☆☆☆ Not good. Why did I waste my time?
★☆☆☆☆ Lousy. I didn’t finish.
November 18, 2024
I don't care about Archer's attitude much... His problems are Evian water and having more towels, painting rooms, and such. At the same time he decides to purchase a $10.000 emerald and offers $400.000 for a Botero painting, he complains that his family will have to travel 240 miles to visit him...
I could sympathise with him on Hell, not so much on Purgatory. He is too full of himself and complains a lot when he is receiving so much from the inmates around him.
I could sympathise with him on Hell, not so much on Purgatory. He is too full of himself and complains a lot when he is receiving so much from the inmates around him.
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