Fighting for My Life: A Prisoner's Story of Redemption

by Billy Moore

'The next round in Billy's fight is pain-racked, frank and reflective . . . an inspiring piece from a man who's been to hell and back and has the scars to prove it'JOE COLE'Brutally honest, dark and disturbing. A book that tells of the reality of drugs and a failing prison system'NEIL SAMWORTH, author of A Prison Officer's Story'Billy Moore writes with such a tragic authenticity that it kept me willing for him to succeed, even as I knew he was never too far from self-destruction. It's his self-awareness that I admire - unflinching and brutal and also, it should be said, his wonderful way with words'Professor Emeritus DAVID WILSON, author of My Life with Murderers'His life may have had many ups and downs, but Billy is a wonderful example of never giving up'JAMES ENGLISH'A true story of forgiveness, not only learning to forgive others but also learning to forgive yourself. An incredibly emotional story about an incredible man who's had an incredible journey'LIAM HARRISON'This time I am telling the story of my life both before prison in Thailand and what followed once I was back in the United Kingdom, my cancer diagnosis, more prison time and, finally, redemption. I am trying to understand aspects of my childhood that had a role in my eventual downward spiral into addiction, pain, misery and loss'BILLY MOOREBilly Moore spent three years in Klong Prem prison in Thailand, popularly known as the 'Bangkok Hilton', where he witnessed acts of extreme violence and sexual assault. Eventually he found purpose through taking part in Muay Thai boxing tournaments in jail. Here, he found 'a wall of human community' amongst the elite boxers and regained his sobriety.He was granted early release by the King of Thailand having excelled as a Muay Thai boxer in inter-prison tournaments. But back in the UK and a decade later - with his demons resurfacing - Billy's past caught up with him. He was caught and convicted of a burglary and was despatched to HMP Walton under then home secretary Theresa May's three-strikes rule. Billy has spent almost twenty-two years in various prisons, but since then, he has not only survived cancer, but also gone on to become a powerful advocate of boxing and anti-knife crime initiatives in the Liverpool area, training young boxers.A Prayer Before Dawn was made into a film directed by Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire and starring Joe Cole, of Peaky Blinders' fame. The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2017, but by the time it went on general release, Billy was back in prison in the UK.In this follow-up to Billy's first international bestseller, an autobiography set largely in Thailand's infamous prison system, Billy sets out to explore his experience of childhood abuse that would lead to a life of drug addiction and near-constant incarceration. After Billy's sentence in Klong Prem prison was commuted as a result of his extraordinary success as a Muay Thai boxer, he returned to the UK.In this vividly told story, Liverpudlian Billy contrasts his first-hand experience of one of the cruellest prison systems in the world with his experience of UK prisons.

272 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 3, 2021

Reviews

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very interesting read. This was the follow on to a previous book which I hadn't read but then I don't think you needed to, there was enough backstory fitted in here to get the gist. What I will say is that I absolutely want to read the first book as it must have been horrendous what he went through in a Thai prison and that doesn't come across so detailed in this book as it was already covered in the first story.

This is Billy's follow on, after he ended up in a Thai prison for years then had to come back to the UK to finish his sentence, but during that time he had ended up having a film made about his story and the book opens with Billy finding himself at the opening of his movie at the Cannes Film Festival. After everything he has been through with his struggles with addiction it's remarkable that he found himself in that position.

It was a very interesting and honest account of his struggles, throughout the whole book he is very honest and I believe that's a very brave thing. How he was clean, then he relapsed. He got diagnosed with cancer which would make anybody want to relapse, found himself yet again back in prison for something he did when he was not in his right mind, relapsed on drugs. Relationship breakdowns, bereavements in his family.

A very inspirational story.

[Gemma Masters · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a book! What a story! Real words, real life! Loved it

[Dave B · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I possibly should have read the first book before this one. This seemed to be a book written out of the success and popularity of the first book. There was not a lot to it, other than a man's struggles against addiction.