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The English Prisoner
When Tig Hague kissed goodbye to his girlfriend Lucy, he was already thinking of his return. The couple were going house-hunting, looking for their first home together. Tig was only going to be gone a few days on a routine business trip - the annual highlight of an otherwise unglamorous job working on the Russian desk of a London bank.
But just hours later something went wrong at Moscow airport. Very wrong.
Misunderstanding a request from customs for a backhander to speed his progress into the country, Tig was pulled to one side to have his bag searched. A deliberate inconvenience, he thought.
But Tig's world was about to implode with dizzying, terrifying speed. A tiny lump of hashish, nothing more than detritus from a recent stag weekend, was discovered in the pocket of an old pair of jeans. Too small to warrant anything more than a slapped wrist back home, he hadn't even known it was there.
Tig was in Moscow's notorious Piet Centrale jail by nightfall - and that was just a stepping stone on his way to prison camp Zone 22 in the bleak, remote wastes of Mordovia.
He wouldn't be returning home for years ...
But just hours later something went wrong at Moscow airport. Very wrong.
Misunderstanding a request from customs for a backhander to speed his progress into the country, Tig was pulled to one side to have his bag searched. A deliberate inconvenience, he thought.
But Tig's world was about to implode with dizzying, terrifying speed. A tiny lump of hashish, nothing more than detritus from a recent stag weekend, was discovered in the pocket of an old pair of jeans. Too small to warrant anything more than a slapped wrist back home, he hadn't even known it was there.
Tig was in Moscow's notorious Piet Centrale jail by nightfall - and that was just a stepping stone on his way to prison camp Zone 22 in the bleak, remote wastes of Mordovia.
He wouldn't be returning home for years ...
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
October 11, 2016
Read this review at Brilliant Bookshelf
The thing about Zone 22 is that it isn't a great book, but it does tell a very interesting and horrifying story. It is a true story about a British man who ends up in a gulag-like camp in Russia.
The first thing that came up in my mind while reading was not a pretty one. Tig Hague got arrested at Moskou airport because he forgot he still had a little bit of marijuana in his jeans pocket. My first thought? He's an incredible idiot. Practically everyone knows how strict the regulations are at airports, especially in Russia. I could not comprehend how it had not entered his mind to check everything before his flight. However, how stupid it may be, I know all too well that a lot of people find themselves in a similar situation.
So while this immediate character flaw bothered me, the real essence of the story is how the justice system in Russia is really corrupt and - frankly - unjust. The evidence in Hague's case got tempered with immediately, the words in his testimony were twisted and turned to make him look guilty. his assigned lawyers did not have the man's best interest in mind. But most of all, the author did not speak the language and was forced to do or sign things without having even a clue what it was about. It's very unlike the majority of the European judicial systems and it's terrifying that a system like that is still allowed to exist in our day and time.
Once Hague was sentenced to prison, he ended up in Zone 22, where corrupt officials and extremely bad treatment of prisoners are considered normal. Tig went through a horrible ordeal there: getting really sick, working too hard, spending thousands of pounds to buy off officials, losing a great deal of weight etc. To know that he was privileged because of the money and products he got from the embassy and his family, to know that most prisoners did not have this, puts things even more in perspective. The great thing about this book is that it doesn't sugarcoat things, but portrays the Russian penal system like it really is.
The reason why I only gave Zone 22 three stars is because, for all the shocking scenes it contains, it is rather repetitive at times and the author isn't a very great writer. Sure, it gets the point across, but that's about it. It's still very informative though and can definitely help you realize the flaws of our modern time and how great your own life really is.
May 13, 2015
The English Prisoner is not a literary masterpiece; it's not an exciting narrative with compelling protagonists. What it is, is a compelling true story about the corrupt Russian prison system.
I was given this book while traveling from another traveler. I didn't have another book at the time so I thought I'd pass my time with it. My first impressions were not very great: the author/main character essentially drove himself into a shitty situation by doing something illegal and tried to convince the authorities and the readers that his illegal act was not a big deal. In essence, he came across as kind of an A-hole.
I have very little sympathy for anyone who not only willingly breaks the law he knows is there, but then tries to act like it's not a big deal. Sorry buddy, even if the amount was small, and smoking weed is pretty widespread, the fact of the matter is that you broke the law, and you expected the laws and authorities in another country to adhere to the same policies as your own country - tough luck.
That being said, as I continued to read the book I became increasingly sympathetic for Tig. He broke the law, yes. Should he have been punished? If nothing else than for his stupid decisions, sure. But... nowhere near the extent to what happened. Throughout the book, Tig never came across as a very likeable person to me - just a case of different personalities - but that wasn't the point. The purpose of this book was to shed a light on the very real - the frighteningly real corruption that exists in the Russian legal/prison system. As typical when I read true stories, I had to keep reminding myself that this was indeed something that really happened, and that's the kicker. In no way did Tig deserve what happened to that extent, and the description of the conditions of the prisons and the character of the guards was truly shocking once I reminded myself it was reality, not fiction. It's easy to think, "yeah, there's corruption," and to watch a movie that shows some of the same stuff depicted in "The English Prisoner" and think, "wow, that sucks." But when you read this book, and you realize that those conditions, and worse, are really happening, that real people, many whom are innocent of the crime or at least innocent of the extent of the crime, are living and being treated in those conditions... It's truly shocking, and it makes you really appreciate the life you have... And for myself it definitely reinforces to never break smoke marijuana whilst it still remains illegal, and DEFINITELY not in Russia!
I was given this book while traveling from another traveler. I didn't have another book at the time so I thought I'd pass my time with it. My first impressions were not very great: the author/main character essentially drove himself into a shitty situation by doing something illegal and tried to convince the authorities and the readers that his illegal act was not a big deal. In essence, he came across as kind of an A-hole.
I have very little sympathy for anyone who not only willingly breaks the law he knows is there, but then tries to act like it's not a big deal. Sorry buddy, even if the amount was small, and smoking weed is pretty widespread, the fact of the matter is that you broke the law, and you expected the laws and authorities in another country to adhere to the same policies as your own country - tough luck.
That being said, as I continued to read the book I became increasingly sympathetic for Tig. He broke the law, yes. Should he have been punished? If nothing else than for his stupid decisions, sure. But... nowhere near the extent to what happened. Throughout the book, Tig never came across as a very likeable person to me - just a case of different personalities - but that wasn't the point. The purpose of this book was to shed a light on the very real - the frighteningly real corruption that exists in the Russian legal/prison system. As typical when I read true stories, I had to keep reminding myself that this was indeed something that really happened, and that's the kicker. In no way did Tig deserve what happened to that extent, and the description of the conditions of the prisons and the character of the guards was truly shocking once I reminded myself it was reality, not fiction. It's easy to think, "yeah, there's corruption," and to watch a movie that shows some of the same stuff depicted in "The English Prisoner" and think, "wow, that sucks." But when you read this book, and you realize that those conditions, and worse, are really happening, that real people, many whom are innocent of the crime or at least innocent of the extent of the crime, are living and being treated in those conditions... It's truly shocking, and it makes you really appreciate the life you have... And for myself it definitely reinforces to never break smoke marijuana whilst it still remains illegal, and DEFINITELY not in Russia!
January 17, 2017
It has taken me four years to finish this book. I have no idea how Tig Hague managed to survive in the shittiest hell-hole on earth, stuck in a forgotten prison in the middle of Siberia for a crime so trivial as to be mind-boggling.
Much like events themselves, the book needs to be approached with a determination to get through it. Hague's frustration and madness boils on each page as he takes you on a journey into utter despair, each day threatening to crush the life out of him as he confronts the Russian judicial system. And with each turn of the page, you're left blinking, looking around, thinking "thank Christ this is not me!"
Even with such a bleak tale to tell, ol' Tig retains a typically British sense of humour that serves to pull the reader out of the terrible pallor of prison life every once in a while. These brief respites allow you a gulp of air before he ploughs you back in, deeper into utter despondency. At the end of it, you're left wondering how he managed to survive the terrible ordeal.
I'm pretty certain I would have been reduced to a babbling, dribbling idiot in a straight-jacket within a week of facing Hague's hell. What I'm less certain of though, is that whilst I give this book 5 stars (it really is amazing), I'm not sure I'd actually recommend it to someone else as a "great book" because it really does take you inside the mouth of madness.
Much like events themselves, the book needs to be approached with a determination to get through it. Hague's frustration and madness boils on each page as he takes you on a journey into utter despair, each day threatening to crush the life out of him as he confronts the Russian judicial system. And with each turn of the page, you're left blinking, looking around, thinking "thank Christ this is not me!"
Even with such a bleak tale to tell, ol' Tig retains a typically British sense of humour that serves to pull the reader out of the terrible pallor of prison life every once in a while. These brief respites allow you a gulp of air before he ploughs you back in, deeper into utter despondency. At the end of it, you're left wondering how he managed to survive the terrible ordeal.
I'm pretty certain I would have been reduced to a babbling, dribbling idiot in a straight-jacket within a week of facing Hague's hell. What I'm less certain of though, is that whilst I give this book 5 stars (it really is amazing), I'm not sure I'd actually recommend it to someone else as a "great book" because it really does take you inside the mouth of madness.
May 30, 2024
Goed en spannend boek, alleen de schrijfstijl is ietwat beschrijvend in plaats van showing.
October 30, 2024
Surová sonda do ruského právneho a väzenského systému! Odporúčam predovšetkým ľudom, ktorí trpia spomienkovým optimizmom a idealizujú si "RuZZko" ako krajinu zasľúbenú...
December 17, 2025
dnf. Lots of repeating. Talking about 1 thing for 30 pages at a time. Got bored.
2 stars cause I lasted 230 pages.
2 stars cause I lasted 230 pages.
August 24, 2018
Predictable, full of cliches, boring. The story is nothing special, the narrator/main character is very spineless. It’s got so predictable half way when the author does this, introduces heaps of characters, focuses on something small and then one of the many characters you have read about does something. Very poor book!
December 4, 2014
wow! this was a terrible ordeal for this poor guy to go through! very difficult to read sometimes without wanting to vomit! but nevertheless it was well written and i recommend this to anyone who is planning to travel to Russia, just be careful! ;)
October 30, 2019
Fantastic adventure story. A tale of how a seemingly mundane day can go so wrong and impact a persons life forever.
March 7, 2018
De jonge 'hij was toen pas 20' Tig Hague reist voor zijn werk regelmatig naar Rusland. Hij werkt bij een Engelse bank en doet in Rusland zaken. Op een dag in 2003 gaat het mis. Tig is nogal gammel van de lange vlucht en bovendien heeft hij een kater na een feestje. Op het vliegveld merkt hij plotseling dat de douane extra belangstelling heeft voor zijn bagage. De douanebeambte doet nog een poging om Tig over te halen hem flink wat geld toe te stoppen, zodat hij zo door kan lopen, maar Tig heeft het niet helemaal door. Dan moet hij zijn hele koffer leeghalen en vindt men in de zak van zijn spijkerbroek een vloeitje met precies één gram wiet. Achteloos in zijn zak gestopt na het feestje. Het gevolg: tot het voorjaar van 2005 is Tig bijkans eigendom van het Russische gevangenissysteem. Hij wordt veroordeeld als drugssmokkelaar.
Vanaf de eerste pagina van dit boek kan je soms je ogen niet geloven. Mensen die willens en wetens met grote hoeveelheden drugs Rusland binnenkomen, worden streng gestraft. Maar Tig? Die is er gewoon ingeluisd. Hij spreekt geen woord Russisch en kan dus absoluut niet volgen wat er de eerste dagen allemaal om hem heen gebeurt. Bijna zonder dat hij het beseft wordt hij aangeklaagd, voor de rechter gehaald en veroordeeld. Zijn straf: minstens een paar jaar in een streng kamp in Mordovië. Alles aan het Russische gevangeniswezen is corrupt. En vuil en akelig. Gevangenen krijgen eigenlijk geen eten, want wat ze krijgen verdient die naam niet. In het kamp moet hij werken, al krijgt hij gelukkig een lichamelijk niet erg zwaar baantje toegewezen. De kou, de honger, het vuil, de corruptie, alles wat Tig meemaakt wordt onopgesmukt en eerlijk neergezet.
Ook het feit dat de gevangenen onderling grote concurrenten van elkaar worden in hun pogingen het gezag om te kopen om zo eerder vrij te kunnen komen. Dat omkopen is een economie op zich. Hoe meer je de bewakers geeft, hoe groter de kans dat je zaak vroeger behandeld kan worden. Aan de andere kant willen de bewakers de 'rijke' gevangenen niet laten gaan. Want hoe moeten zij anders leven? De bewakers en het andere gevangenispersoneel krijgen ook niet tot nauwelijks betaald en ze krijgen hetzelfde vieze eten. Alles wat zij aan luxe hebben- en vers fruit is al een onbetaalbare luxe - krijgen ze via gevangenen als Tig, die via zijn familie en via de ambassade kan beschikken over pakketten met eten en rookwaar. Stel je daar niet te veel van voor: vers eten is maar beperkt houdbaar, en Tig overleeft zijn eerst winter zowat op noedels en worst. Een pot oploskoffie is bijna zijn gewicht in goud waard.
Tig verkeert in de gelukkige omstandigheid dat hij ouders heeft die veel om hem geven, en een verloofde die zoveel van hem houdt dat ze bijna het onmogelijke doet om Tig iets comfortabeler te laten leven. De Engelse ambassade werkt mee, en zelfs een ex-collega ziet kans om op bezoek te komen. Tig ziet kans om zijn waardigheid te bewaren en deelt zoveel mogelijk met zijn mede-gevangenen. Toch heeft hij ook momenten waarin hij het helemaal niet meer ziet zitten en hij dingen doet en zegt waarvan hij niet dacht ze ooit te zullen doen en zeggen.
Een hartverscheurend boek zonder dat het sentimenteel wordt. Eerlijk, hard en beangstigend. Voor alle partijen. Want je zult maar gevangenbewaarder zijn in Rusland.
Vanaf de eerste pagina van dit boek kan je soms je ogen niet geloven. Mensen die willens en wetens met grote hoeveelheden drugs Rusland binnenkomen, worden streng gestraft. Maar Tig? Die is er gewoon ingeluisd. Hij spreekt geen woord Russisch en kan dus absoluut niet volgen wat er de eerste dagen allemaal om hem heen gebeurt. Bijna zonder dat hij het beseft wordt hij aangeklaagd, voor de rechter gehaald en veroordeeld. Zijn straf: minstens een paar jaar in een streng kamp in Mordovië. Alles aan het Russische gevangeniswezen is corrupt. En vuil en akelig. Gevangenen krijgen eigenlijk geen eten, want wat ze krijgen verdient die naam niet. In het kamp moet hij werken, al krijgt hij gelukkig een lichamelijk niet erg zwaar baantje toegewezen. De kou, de honger, het vuil, de corruptie, alles wat Tig meemaakt wordt onopgesmukt en eerlijk neergezet.
Ook het feit dat de gevangenen onderling grote concurrenten van elkaar worden in hun pogingen het gezag om te kopen om zo eerder vrij te kunnen komen. Dat omkopen is een economie op zich. Hoe meer je de bewakers geeft, hoe groter de kans dat je zaak vroeger behandeld kan worden. Aan de andere kant willen de bewakers de 'rijke' gevangenen niet laten gaan. Want hoe moeten zij anders leven? De bewakers en het andere gevangenispersoneel krijgen ook niet tot nauwelijks betaald en ze krijgen hetzelfde vieze eten. Alles wat zij aan luxe hebben- en vers fruit is al een onbetaalbare luxe - krijgen ze via gevangenen als Tig, die via zijn familie en via de ambassade kan beschikken over pakketten met eten en rookwaar. Stel je daar niet te veel van voor: vers eten is maar beperkt houdbaar, en Tig overleeft zijn eerst winter zowat op noedels en worst. Een pot oploskoffie is bijna zijn gewicht in goud waard.
Tig verkeert in de gelukkige omstandigheid dat hij ouders heeft die veel om hem geven, en een verloofde die zoveel van hem houdt dat ze bijna het onmogelijke doet om Tig iets comfortabeler te laten leven. De Engelse ambassade werkt mee, en zelfs een ex-collega ziet kans om op bezoek te komen. Tig ziet kans om zijn waardigheid te bewaren en deelt zoveel mogelijk met zijn mede-gevangenen. Toch heeft hij ook momenten waarin hij het helemaal niet meer ziet zitten en hij dingen doet en zegt waarvan hij niet dacht ze ooit te zullen doen en zeggen.
Een hartverscheurend boek zonder dat het sentimenteel wordt. Eerlijk, hard en beangstigend. Voor alle partijen. Want je zult maar gevangenbewaarder zijn in Rusland.
January 1, 2022
Pardon, ale ľahkovážnosť s akou sa zbalí na cestu do zahraničia (a v nohaviciach si nechá balíček s drogou) je trochu na pováženie. A aj to, že pri súde sa znovu neodvážil ten balíček, hašiš, či mariška, či čo to vlastne mal, však to je dôkaz, toto im zanedbal jeho právnik! A aj to celý ten pokec s ruskými policajtami a podpísané priznanie, že v jeho kruhoch je sem-tam šnupnúť si, či fajčiť úplne normálne?! Je mi ho ľúto... a teda na jeho mieste by som sa nechcela ocitnúť, ale dosť si za to mohol aj on sám.
Tiež mi pripadalo nereálne, koľko darov na podplácanie straážnikov vlastne putovalo do tábora 22. To a podpora rodiny a priateľov bolo ozaj dojímavé...
Ale oceňujem autentickosť príbehu. Je to desivé a určite to na ňom zanechalo stopy... kniha je svojím spôsobom terapia a varovanie zároveň.
Tiež mi pripadalo nereálne, koľko darov na podplácanie straážnikov vlastne putovalo do tábora 22. To a podpora rodiny a priateľov bolo ozaj dojímavé...
Ale oceňujem autentickosť príbehu. Je to desivé a určite to na ňom zanechalo stopy... kniha je svojím spôsobom terapia a varovanie zároveň.
October 25, 2020
This book wasn’t that well written, and at times I thought the foul language wasn’t necessary, but it was an important story to tell of the corrupt judicial system in Russia. I gave this book a 4 star because Tig Hague successfully transported me into his horrific time spent in Zone 22. I could feel his swings of emotions, understand his extreme anger at the guards and his disgust at their bribery.
December 5, 2020
het waargebeurde verhaal van Tig Hague die na een vrijgezellenfeest op een zakenreis naar Moskou gaat maar vergeten dat hij nog een klein beetje wiet in zijn spijkerbroek had zitten. in Moskou word hij opgepakt en in de gevangenis gegooid want drugs is daar een zwaar taboe. zijn strijd om weer vrij te komen en ondertussen probeert te overleven eerst in de gevangenis en later in een strafkamp. erg indrukwekkend vooral als je leest hoe de gevangenen daar behandeld worden.
August 8, 2021
Geen literair meesterwerk maar dat is ook niet nodig. Dit boek was mijn "vakantieboek" en dan is een spannend boek best lekker, en daar voldeed dit boek prima aan. Van het onterechte overdrijven van de douane aan het begin van de catastrofale inschattingsfouten naar de manier waarop de gevangenen in strafkamp 22 met elkaar om gaan, het hele verhaal wordt levendig verteld.
November 19, 2021
The book is a good read. Yes he did wrong and as a person he had some terrible habits but the fact that he was sentenced without knowing anything, without a translator or am embassy rep, gives an insight into a corrupt country.
April 3, 2022
3.5 ⭐️
This book was excellent at times, then quite slow at others, meaning I’ve had to drop half a star. Overall an enjoyable, easy read with lots of interesting facts into the gruelling Russian judicial system!
This book was excellent at times, then quite slow at others, meaning I’ve had to drop half a star. Overall an enjoyable, easy read with lots of interesting facts into the gruelling Russian judicial system!
June 11, 2023
After investing in his story, I felt a little deflated at the end when there is one small paragraph about his life after prison.
April 4, 2011
Honestly the best book I've ever bought from Poundland! As well as that however I would say that I started off not feeling any real sympathy at all for the author who ends up in deep trouble at Moscow airport. Initially he comes across as a real smart arse chinless wonder but thanks to the character-forming opportunities offered to him by the Russian penal system (!) it ends up being impossible not to wish him good fortune and the earliest possible chance to get out of his prison deep in the middle of Mordovia (yes, it does exist - google it!). Not particularly well written and a bit repetitive at times but it gives a real insight into life in prison in Russia where nobody basically gives a damn about you once that door closes behind you.
January 19, 2015
When I purchased this book, I was not aware that it was a true story.
However, this only made it all the more interesting and unsettling.
The crap that Tig Hague goes through after being arrested in Moscow for possession of marijuana is as shocking as it is entertaining, and even hilarious. I was struck by how funny this story is, even though it details the terrible hardships he had to face under the mercy (virtually non-existent)of the Russian prison guards. Equally interesting, and somewhat moving, is the way that all the prisoners seem to bond and care for each other. 'Zone 22' is not 'The Great Escape' or 'The Shawshank Redemption', but it tells the story was it really was, and I for one would like to shake Mr. Hague's hand if I was ever to meet him in person.
However, this only made it all the more interesting and unsettling.
The crap that Tig Hague goes through after being arrested in Moscow for possession of marijuana is as shocking as it is entertaining, and even hilarious. I was struck by how funny this story is, even though it details the terrible hardships he had to face under the mercy (virtually non-existent)of the Russian prison guards. Equally interesting, and somewhat moving, is the way that all the prisoners seem to bond and care for each other. 'Zone 22' is not 'The Great Escape' or 'The Shawshank Redemption', but it tells the story was it really was, and I for one would like to shake Mr. Hague's hand if I was ever to meet him in person.
October 2, 2012
I borrowed this book from my Dad to read because I saw it in his shelf and thought it sounded interesting, I was right. The first time I read this book I was young and probably did not understand everything and so when I reread it I understood a lot more of what was happening. Wow. Definitely worth reading, it is about the terrible experiences a man faced when imprisoned in Russia. The ordeals he faced would change him forever.
September 14, 2016
Great book a real page turner and insight into the corrupt nature of the Russian legal system! I don't know if I feel sorry for him or not taking drugs no matter how much into Russia is illegal! Was it a harsh sentence yes should he have taken the drugs there no! He got caught and jailed.
Having said that the treatment he had was harsh in the zone long hours of manual labour illness boredom and the perverse pleasure the guards got from making you suffer both mentally and physically!
Having said that the treatment he had was harsh in the zone long hours of manual labour illness boredom and the perverse pleasure the guards got from making you suffer both mentally and physically!
October 16, 2013
A non fiction about how destiny can play bad and get a simple ordinary British national get caught up in Russia's prison...This is a story of his struggle to prove himself innocent and return to his home land..The description of corrupted Russian officials,the inhuman treatment given to prisoners is heart touching..
Read
April 11, 2016Easy non-ficitonal read about Russion prisons. Story about a Brittish business man taken to prison in Siberia. I will definetely check my pockets and back when I'm in Russia next autumn. The book is just one of these inside-prison-books, if you're interested in the topic I would recommend it, it's wellwritten.
August 16, 2008
A vivid account of a young Brit's experience of the Russian justice and penal system today. While clearly appalling in modern terms, the author's experiences almost pale into insignificance in the shadow of Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn's description of the Stalin-era "Gulag Archipelago".
August 7, 2019
My family (the warrens) actually sent over a lot of money to help Tig but the money was stolen by the lawyer. The names are in the back of the book for thanks. I really liked this book and found it very interesting. It was definitely a page tuner for me
Read
March 16, 2009Will keep me out of trouble if i'm ever in Russia.
May 24, 2011
amazing story of everything that could go wrong when you're visiting Russia. a worst-case scenario memoir.
September 28, 2011
A compelling enough story to make you gloss over the slightly clumsy writing.
March 9, 2012
So Real. I felt like i was in the prison with him
September 24, 2012
a largley reccommended book. very discriptive and makes you really feel for tig. true story written by tig hague on his life changing experiance
387 pgs.
387 pgs.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews