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A Prison Diary #1
Belmarsh: Hell
'The sun is shining through the bars of my window on what must be a glorious summer day. I've been incarcerated in a cell five paces by three for twelve and a half hours, and will not be let out again until midday; eighteen and a half hours of solitary confinement. There is a child of seventeen in the cell below me who has been charged with shoplifting - his first offence, not even convicted - and he is being locked up for eighteen and a half hours, unable to speak to anyone. This is Great Britain in the twenty-first century, not Turkey, not Nigeria, not Kosovo, but Britain.'
On Thursday 19 July 2001, after a perjury trial lasting seven weeks, Jeffrey Archer was sentenced to four years in jail. He was to spend the first twenty-two days and fourteen hours in HMP Belmarsh, a double A-Category high-security prison in South London, which houses some of Britain's most violent criminals.
This is the author's daily record of the time he spent there.
On Thursday 19 July 2001, after a perjury trial lasting seven weeks, Jeffrey Archer was sentenced to four years in jail. He was to spend the first twenty-two days and fourteen hours in HMP Belmarsh, a double A-Category high-security prison in South London, which houses some of Britain's most violent criminals.
This is the author's daily record of the time he spent there.
Audio CD
First published January 1, 2002
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About the author
Jeffrey Archer
659 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 437 reviews
December 22, 2020
I had been reading Jeffrey Archer's books for several years when one day I got quite a shock.
Archer had been sentenced to serve time in prison !
What's more,it was no ordinary prison. It was Britain's notorious high security prison,Belmarsh. He was to be kept with violent criminals.
His stay at Belmarsh lasted twenty two days. He was kept in a tiny cell in solitary confinment.
And straightaway,he devised a coping strategy. He picked up a pen and started writing again.The result was the three volumes of prison diaries,titled "Hell","Purgatory" and "Heaven".
Of these,the first volume is the most intense. Conditions at Belmarsh prison were extremely harsh. Archer wonders why they had to send him there,of all places.
Archer's prison diary is very poignant.
Not only does he find ways to survive,he also jots down the stories of his fellow inmates which make for a gripping read.
The prison experience would also be reflected in several of his subsequent books after his release.
It wouldn't dampen his creativity,however. He would continue to be a prolific author,writing many more bestsellers.
The prison diaries are far better than several of Archer's fictional works. As the saying goes,fact is stranger than fiction.
Archer had been sentenced to serve time in prison !
What's more,it was no ordinary prison. It was Britain's notorious high security prison,Belmarsh. He was to be kept with violent criminals.
His stay at Belmarsh lasted twenty two days. He was kept in a tiny cell in solitary confinment.
And straightaway,he devised a coping strategy. He picked up a pen and started writing again.The result was the three volumes of prison diaries,titled "Hell","Purgatory" and "Heaven".
Of these,the first volume is the most intense. Conditions at Belmarsh prison were extremely harsh. Archer wonders why they had to send him there,of all places.
Archer's prison diary is very poignant.
Not only does he find ways to survive,he also jots down the stories of his fellow inmates which make for a gripping read.
The prison experience would also be reflected in several of his subsequent books after his release.
It wouldn't dampen his creativity,however. He would continue to be a prolific author,writing many more bestsellers.
The prison diaries are far better than several of Archer's fictional works. As the saying goes,fact is stranger than fiction.
May 20, 2011
Honestly, I do NOT know what all the flap is about Jeffrey Archer being such a piss-poor writer. I downloaded one of his free short-stories back in the winter from his "And Thereby Hangs a Tale" collection, and after just a few paragraphs in, I was immediately taken on an amazingly tantalising and tactile journey that pulled my emotions along in a very seamless manner.
His story-telling skills are incredibly sharp and finely-honed, and in that regard, he reminds me very much of Dan Brown or J.K. Rowling. They may not be literary giants, but they know how to tell a whopping great story.
Currently I'm reading Book I in his prison diary series, and am amazed at the skill that it took him to put this work down in one draft. Sure, some places are rough in that they could use a comma or a grammar-checker, but if we let that detract us from reading and enjoying a story that fully engages our emotions on every level, then we're obviously missing the entire point of being writers.
Jeffrey Archer is a very enjoyable author and I intend to read everything by him that I can get my grubby little hands on, because when I open a book by this man, I don't care about his political journey with the House of Lords, and I don't care that he was imprisoned for an intentional infraction. When I read his words, all I care about is what happens next.
His story-telling skills are incredibly sharp and finely-honed, and in that regard, he reminds me very much of Dan Brown or J.K. Rowling. They may not be literary giants, but they know how to tell a whopping great story.
Currently I'm reading Book I in his prison diary series, and am amazed at the skill that it took him to put this work down in one draft. Sure, some places are rough in that they could use a comma or a grammar-checker, but if we let that detract us from reading and enjoying a story that fully engages our emotions on every level, then we're obviously missing the entire point of being writers.
Jeffrey Archer is a very enjoyable author and I intend to read everything by him that I can get my grubby little hands on, because when I open a book by this man, I don't care about his political journey with the House of Lords, and I don't care that he was imprisoned for an intentional infraction. When I read his words, all I care about is what happens next.
February 2, 2011
I make no apology for being an avid Jeffrey Archer fan. I think his novels are cracking good escapism. So there! I was however a bit apprehensive about reading his first prison diary. It was going to be full of Jeff feeling sorry for himself and berating everyone except himself, wasn't it?
Well, no, actually. There was very little of that. Instead the insight into the prison service and some of its more off-the-wall rules had me laughing, crying and full of righteous indignation as the book progressed. Someone in for six weeks for a driving offence 'banged up' with a murderer? Come on!
I've never had much time for prison reformers. People inside are there to be punished. If you can't do the time don't do the crime. Jeffrey has changed that view and I've ordered the next two books in the series.
Well, no, actually. There was very little of that. Instead the insight into the prison service and some of its more off-the-wall rules had me laughing, crying and full of righteous indignation as the book progressed. Someone in for six weeks for a driving offence 'banged up' with a murderer? Come on!
I've never had much time for prison reformers. People inside are there to be punished. If you can't do the time don't do the crime. Jeffrey has changed that view and I've ordered the next two books in the series.
October 7, 2024
Despite having read virtually all of his pre-jail and even a few of his later works I didn't feel that it was right that anyone should profit from doing wrong. However, when someone very kindly sent me this trilogy free of charge I felt that it would be churlish not to read them.
This diary covers the first 21 days of his time in jail after being found guilty of perjury, 21 days which he spent in high security Belmarsh prison. I expected him to talk more about his crime and the injustice that took him to jail but was pleasantly surprised that he decided to focus on the prison experience and the book pretty well does what it says on the can. In doing so he manages to bring out the pressures and anxieties of prison in a simple and straightforward manner, mixed in with a large dose of humour. This diary was written at the time rather than in retrospect so a few traces of bitterness can be easily excused and, oddly, he seems to fit into the prison regime very easily using the self-discipline that he had previously used in his writing career as a sort of comfort, helping him get through each day by breaking up the time into his normal two hour writing sessions.
Archer is a captivating story teller and overall I found this an interesting and informative read with an unusual perspective of the prison world, despite not really believing that his experiences were in any way typical. His fame if not notoriety certainly seems to have protected him from the excesses of the system.
This diary covers the first 21 days of his time in jail after being found guilty of perjury, 21 days which he spent in high security Belmarsh prison. I expected him to talk more about his crime and the injustice that took him to jail but was pleasantly surprised that he decided to focus on the prison experience and the book pretty well does what it says on the can. In doing so he manages to bring out the pressures and anxieties of prison in a simple and straightforward manner, mixed in with a large dose of humour. This diary was written at the time rather than in retrospect so a few traces of bitterness can be easily excused and, oddly, he seems to fit into the prison regime very easily using the self-discipline that he had previously used in his writing career as a sort of comfort, helping him get through each day by breaking up the time into his normal two hour writing sessions.
Archer is a captivating story teller and overall I found this an interesting and informative read with an unusual perspective of the prison world, despite not really believing that his experiences were in any way typical. His fame if not notoriety certainly seems to have protected him from the excesses of the system.
April 18, 2022
This is my first Jeffrey Archer book if you don’t count Kane & Abel which I read a million years ago when I was seventeen or so.
It’s ironic that Archer talks about other prisoners and how most of them claim to be innocent of the charges that sent them there while he never takes any responsibility for his own crimes.
Still, this is a thorough and articulate story of one man’s eyewitness account of the British penal system. I almost envy his front row seat, but not enough to get myself locked up.
I am totally fascinated by prison stories. I reckon they tell the ultimate challenge for a man (I don’t think that women suffer from this malady of having to prove yourself constantly, but I may be wrong). I don’t think that we should send anyone to prison who hasn’t committed a violent offense or who doesn’t pose a threat of violence to others. And perjury? Wow, they really wanted to send Mr. Archer a message.
He doesn’t say anything about his own case in this book, and what I read about it in the press makes it all seem rather silly. He seemed to have brought on his troubles all by himself, and it appears that his own ego was a major accomplice in his perjury offense.
It’s ironic that Archer talks about other prisoners and how most of them claim to be innocent of the charges that sent them there while he never takes any responsibility for his own crimes.
Still, this is a thorough and articulate story of one man’s eyewitness account of the British penal system. I almost envy his front row seat, but not enough to get myself locked up.
I am totally fascinated by prison stories. I reckon they tell the ultimate challenge for a man (I don’t think that women suffer from this malady of having to prove yourself constantly, but I may be wrong). I don’t think that we should send anyone to prison who hasn’t committed a violent offense or who doesn’t pose a threat of violence to others. And perjury? Wow, they really wanted to send Mr. Archer a message.
He doesn’t say anything about his own case in this book, and what I read about it in the press makes it all seem rather silly. He seemed to have brought on his troubles all by himself, and it appears that his own ego was a major accomplice in his perjury offense.
April 22, 2017
AKA Archer Gets an Education
Archer must be the most unthreatening, mild mannered, good guy on the planet. Everyone wants to be his friend. And he met some nasty pieces of work.
Archer must be the most unthreatening, mild mannered, good guy on the planet. Everyone wants to be his friend. And he met some nasty pieces of work.
June 10, 2022
The moral of this true story is....stay out of prison unless you are an established writer, former conservative politician, and someone who deals with less than somewhat respectable members of society on a daily basis. Which is not to say gravitate yourself towards the lock-up, but it helps to be a borderline genius with a silver tongue.
Say what you may about this author, but I really admire a guy who has stuck his neck out many times, sometimes for personal gain but also for his family and many others.
Say what you may about this author, but I really admire a guy who has stuck his neck out many times, sometimes for personal gain but also for his family and many others.
March 13, 2022
This is the first book of a trilogy – audiobook in my case – and I listened to all three before writing this review. I thought I ought to do justice to Lord Archer; if he is to be believed, no one else did. If you are unfamiliar with the background, try the BBC Panorama documentary on YouTube, 'Jeffrey Archer - A Life of Lies (2001)'.
I was hoping for an original insight into prison life – but what the trilogy actually delivers is an unsettling insight into the mind of its author.
Despite the socio-cultural chasm that stretches between a multi-millionaire Peer of the Realm and the common criminal, he soon adopted a whole gamut of prison scams, ranging from trading phonecards to having his laundry taken care of by a fellow inmate, not to mention the smuggling of manuscripts by remand prisoners on home visits.
At one stage he arranged with a convicted Columbian dealer to procure a half-price emerald (a mere trifle, at £10,000) and have it shipped to London, directly from the violence-ravaged mines. Having thus cut out the licensed middleman, he proceeded to give the bargain-basement gem to his wife for Christmas.
I thought that criminals are not allowed to profit from the proceeds of crime. The first book, ‘Hell’, published while he was still in jail, reportedly made £300,000 for the author in its first year. That was in 2002. The trilogy is still selling. I have been unable to find any suggestion that royalties have been donated to charity.
The general narrative is banal – I think it was the self-righteous indignation, the relentless audacity of the author that kept me going; indeed, an element of suspense: surely at some point he will apologise?
My lasting impression is of how he gave ‘surnames’ to his fellow inmates based upon their convictions. So, there was ‘Tom Murder’, ‘Dick Fraud’ and ‘Harry Theft’ (so to speak). He consistently referred to them in this degrading manner.
Accordingly, for one of the most serious cases of its kind ever to come before the English courts (said Mr Justice Potts), you would think ‘Jeffrey Perjury’ would stand centre stage. But he was entirely absent, hiding in the wings, along with his shady understudy, ‘Jeffrey Remorseful’.
I was hoping for an original insight into prison life – but what the trilogy actually delivers is an unsettling insight into the mind of its author.
Despite the socio-cultural chasm that stretches between a multi-millionaire Peer of the Realm and the common criminal, he soon adopted a whole gamut of prison scams, ranging from trading phonecards to having his laundry taken care of by a fellow inmate, not to mention the smuggling of manuscripts by remand prisoners on home visits.
At one stage he arranged with a convicted Columbian dealer to procure a half-price emerald (a mere trifle, at £10,000) and have it shipped to London, directly from the violence-ravaged mines. Having thus cut out the licensed middleman, he proceeded to give the bargain-basement gem to his wife for Christmas.
I thought that criminals are not allowed to profit from the proceeds of crime. The first book, ‘Hell’, published while he was still in jail, reportedly made £300,000 for the author in its first year. That was in 2002. The trilogy is still selling. I have been unable to find any suggestion that royalties have been donated to charity.
The general narrative is banal – I think it was the self-righteous indignation, the relentless audacity of the author that kept me going; indeed, an element of suspense: surely at some point he will apologise?
My lasting impression is of how he gave ‘surnames’ to his fellow inmates based upon their convictions. So, there was ‘Tom Murder’, ‘Dick Fraud’ and ‘Harry Theft’ (so to speak). He consistently referred to them in this degrading manner.
Accordingly, for one of the most serious cases of its kind ever to come before the English courts (said Mr Justice Potts), you would think ‘Jeffrey Perjury’ would stand centre stage. But he was entirely absent, hiding in the wings, along with his shady understudy, ‘Jeffrey Remorseful’.
August 7, 2013
I listened to this on audio and it wasn’t until I was done and looked on Archer’s website that I realized this was Part I:Hell. There are two more parts, Purgatory and Heaven where he chronicles the rest of his two years behind bars. I will not be reading either of those. It is not because he is a person who does not summon sympathy (although he doesn’t), it is because this book was boring. And if part one is called Hell and is boring, well, how much more monotonous can parts two and three be? It claimed to be ‘shocking’ and he said repeatedly that people would be blown away. I wasn’t shocked or even really that interested to learn that he had Coco Puffs for breakfast, but preferred Kellogg’s Corn Flakes.
This is a British prison so I may have felt too removed from it to appreciate it. And maybe in the context of the British prison system this seemed excessively bad, but I didn’t get it. And Archer was only there 22 days! I guess I wondered how sheltered his life had been if his new surroundings shocked him. I mean it is prison after all.
It was well written and a had a few interesting things to say, but on the whole I was obviously disappointed.
This is a British prison so I may have felt too removed from it to appreciate it. And maybe in the context of the British prison system this seemed excessively bad, but I didn’t get it. And Archer was only there 22 days! I guess I wondered how sheltered his life had been if his new surroundings shocked him. I mean it is prison after all.
It was well written and a had a few interesting things to say, but on the whole I was obviously disappointed.
February 17, 2019
Problematic AF. If you want to hear about prison from the perspective of a privileged person, read this. He's very out of touch with the reality that most prisoners face, particularly those of colour. Unsurprisingly, he privileges the experiences of the other white prisoners and portrays himself as a victim. He attaches each prisoners crime to their name (Anthony, murder) which dehumanizes them and serves to elevate his position as someone who doesn't belong there. There was plenty of room for Archer to critique the prison system (I'm not going to read the other books in the series, perhaps he addresses this at a later time) from an advantageous perspective but it was a complete missed opportunity. Also, let's talk about the white narrator's "accents" in the audiobook... Hard pass.
December 17, 2020
Well, I admit, I enjoyed this one immensely more than I expected to. I thought it was cleverly written fiction but it seems Jeffrey Archer actually went to prison...? I almost feel like it needs a re-read with this new understanding.
My copy commends this book as "A devastating critique..." and "Truly captures the fear, the violence, and the numb bleakness of prison life."
Both statements laughably wrong.
The second half of the book does provide some of the sadder, more gruesome prison stories. But it is nothing shocking--at least, nothing shocking if you are at all familiar with the criminal justice system.
In fact, what drew me into this book (besides the beautiful British accent of the audio book narrator) was how very calmly Archer appears to take everything. One reviewer calls him unbelievably naïve. Perhaps that is true. But he settles into prison life with the stolid, stiff-upper lip dignity that the British are famous for and it contrasts when you think of....say, Orange Is the New Black. I did like how he described the loads of letters mailed to him.
I liked the pacing of this book and the way the author doesn't talk too much about his own case. I guess knowing he was writing about a real life experience, this makes sense. But I thought it quite clever writing when I thought this entirely fictional.
My copy commends this book as "A devastating critique..." and "Truly captures the fear, the violence, and the numb bleakness of prison life."
Both statements laughably wrong.
The second half of the book does provide some of the sadder, more gruesome prison stories. But it is nothing shocking--at least, nothing shocking if you are at all familiar with the criminal justice system.
In fact, what drew me into this book (besides the beautiful British accent of the audio book narrator) was how very calmly Archer appears to take everything. One reviewer calls him unbelievably naïve. Perhaps that is true. But he settles into prison life with the stolid, stiff-upper lip dignity that the British are famous for and it contrasts when you think of....say, Orange Is the New Black. I did like how he described the loads of letters mailed to him.
I liked the pacing of this book and the way the author doesn't talk too much about his own case. I guess knowing he was writing about a real life experience, this makes sense. But I thought it quite clever writing when I thought this entirely fictional.
October 15, 2024
Mundane description of Archer's life in prison. (2 more volumes that go beyond Day 22, but just not interested enough to continue)
Except a few descriptions of incidents, nothing much was all that exciting or curious.
Except a few descriptions of incidents, nothing much was all that exciting or curious.
December 25, 2023
A fascinating and entertaining look at the time famous novelist, Jeffrey Archer, spent in Belmarsh Prison. The narrator, Martin Jarvis did a great job with this...
April 20, 2012
The millionaire author and lord is sentenced to four years for perjury (he elides over the specifics of his case), and details his 21 days at London’s Belmarsh Prison while waiting on appeal. It’s an interesting look at the British penal system, which seems to suffer from some of the same defects at the American one (too many inside for drugs, too many first offenders turned into career criminals by associating with them on the inside, not nearly enough education or other incentives to improve). However, he’s befriended and protected instantly by the inmates; he goes through no kind of danger or deprivation as a “new fish.”
As a reporter of the underbelly of society, Archer is either immensely naïve or pretending to be, because he’s shocked at nearly everything. I also wonder if his fellow inmates appreciated him printing their anecdotes and conversations, especially as he quotes some of them as asking him not to repeat certain things which he goes on to recount in detail. In any case, it’s a little lightweight as a “prison diary” (I understand there are two more volumes, one for each prison he was sent to), and Archer’s main complaint is boredom and bad food, so it’s not exactly the most dramatic prison book I’ve read.
As a reporter of the underbelly of society, Archer is either immensely naïve or pretending to be, because he’s shocked at nearly everything. I also wonder if his fellow inmates appreciated him printing their anecdotes and conversations, especially as he quotes some of them as asking him not to repeat certain things which he goes on to recount in detail. In any case, it’s a little lightweight as a “prison diary” (I understand there are two more volumes, one for each prison he was sent to), and Archer’s main complaint is boredom and bad food, so it’s not exactly the most dramatic prison book I’ve read.
October 26, 2024
Title: Prison diary (#1) : Hell
By: Jeffrey Archer
Summary:- Day to day events when Jeffrey Archer was imprisoned for perjury.
Thoughts:-
I started the audiobook because I was bored and I wasn't better off while listening to it for the most part.
Archer's description of his life in Jail is basically just a description of daily life. Eating, showering, sleeping repeat punctuated by certain incidents of intrest and as such leaves the reader with a feeling of unintrest. Now and again I found myself zoning out and not paying attention to the audiobook and sometimes even not caring enough to go back and listen to what I missed.
However, the certain points of interest are like little islands in a sea that catch your attention. Archer tries to humanise the life of prison and largely succeeds in this venture even though the rest of the book is pretty dull. The most notable of these intresting incidents are the life stories of the prisoners currently serving jail time. These are the pages that are the saving grace of the book somewhat ( and one or two little poems that are slipped in ).
Overall, I wouldn't recommend reading this unless you are bored and have nothing else to do. Like being at an airport without any other books.
2.5/5
By: Jeffrey Archer
Summary:- Day to day events when Jeffrey Archer was imprisoned for perjury.
Thoughts:-
I started the audiobook because I was bored and I wasn't better off while listening to it for the most part.
Archer's description of his life in Jail is basically just a description of daily life. Eating, showering, sleeping repeat punctuated by certain incidents of intrest and as such leaves the reader with a feeling of unintrest. Now and again I found myself zoning out and not paying attention to the audiobook and sometimes even not caring enough to go back and listen to what I missed.
However, the certain points of interest are like little islands in a sea that catch your attention. Archer tries to humanise the life of prison and largely succeeds in this venture even though the rest of the book is pretty dull. The most notable of these intresting incidents are the life stories of the prisoners currently serving jail time. These are the pages that are the saving grace of the book somewhat ( and one or two little poems that are slipped in ).
Overall, I wouldn't recommend reading this unless you are bored and have nothing else to do. Like being at an airport without any other books.
2.5/5
February 16, 2022
I like to read books about UK prisons. Many say it's like a holiday camp, but the real stories are very far from it. As you would expect, Jeffrey Archer portrays himself as a very good guy, with most inmates seeming to have read and enjoyed his books! There is no mention of any inmates with mental health diagnoses, which I would have expected, and I also wanted more information about the prison system problems, but this book relates to nearly twenty years ago, so things have probably just got worse in recent years (A Bit Of A Stretch comes to mind). Anything narrated by Jonathan Keeble is presented expertly, however, and I will be listening to Purgatory next!
December 27, 2018
I've just finished reading all three books of the Trilogy and my first impression is how padded and repetitious they are. Remove the padding and all three could easily be accommodated in one slim volume. They are allegedly prison diaries, but in fact they are more about the character and personality of the author.
Archer is a "dodgy character" if you consider the many reviews on his life succinctly listed in his entry on Wikipedia. His prison trilogy is not about the injustices of prison but about his shrill cry of "not guilty". Despite having a first class legal team, the best money could buy, he was found guilty by a jury and sentenced to 4 years imprisonment, and despite massive letter writing by powerful friends and an appeal by the same powerful legal team neither conviction nor sentence was overturned. Archer is an egregious name dropper. Films he watches have all been directed or produced by his close friends. Everyone from the Archbishop of Canterbury to former PM's sympathise with him and confirm to him how wicked and broken the system is that should lead a peer of the realm to these circumstances. Lord Longford seemingly on his deathbed declared that "Archer must be set free": really? All the cons when they hear Archer's story, and lets face it he is a good story teller, think he has been hard done by.
However his wife Mary Archer, scientist extraordinaire, is quoted as saying that "Jeffrey has 'a gift for inaccurate precis' ". Some truth there I think.
There is not an ounce of contrition for his behaviour which led to his conviction, well, he "wuz stitched, wuznt he!"
I found it hard to sympathise with him for all the wrong reasons; he is an obnoxious boastful snob. But even they can have miscarriages of justice, and that might be the case with Archer, but I can't see it.
As a "prison is a broken and dangerous system" book it fails miserably it is too trivial, better to read John Hoskison's "Inside: One man's Experience". While Archer version is about himself, Hoskison's is about redemption, seeking punishment for his failings (causing death by drunk driving) and resolution, and all in one single volume.
Archer is a "dodgy character" if you consider the many reviews on his life succinctly listed in his entry on Wikipedia. His prison trilogy is not about the injustices of prison but about his shrill cry of "not guilty". Despite having a first class legal team, the best money could buy, he was found guilty by a jury and sentenced to 4 years imprisonment, and despite massive letter writing by powerful friends and an appeal by the same powerful legal team neither conviction nor sentence was overturned. Archer is an egregious name dropper. Films he watches have all been directed or produced by his close friends. Everyone from the Archbishop of Canterbury to former PM's sympathise with him and confirm to him how wicked and broken the system is that should lead a peer of the realm to these circumstances. Lord Longford seemingly on his deathbed declared that "Archer must be set free": really? All the cons when they hear Archer's story, and lets face it he is a good story teller, think he has been hard done by.
However his wife Mary Archer, scientist extraordinaire, is quoted as saying that "Jeffrey has 'a gift for inaccurate precis' ". Some truth there I think.
There is not an ounce of contrition for his behaviour which led to his conviction, well, he "wuz stitched, wuznt he!"
I found it hard to sympathise with him for all the wrong reasons; he is an obnoxious boastful snob. But even they can have miscarriages of justice, and that might be the case with Archer, but I can't see it.
As a "prison is a broken and dangerous system" book it fails miserably it is too trivial, better to read John Hoskison's "Inside: One man's Experience". While Archer version is about himself, Hoskison's is about redemption, seeking punishment for his failings (causing death by drunk driving) and resolution, and all in one single volume.
June 22, 2015
Really enjoyed reading and looking forward to reading part 2. Never read any of his other books and didn't realise it was same Jeffrey Archer as novels until half way through! Excellent how he kept reminding you of what each inmate was in for or would never have remembered. Very good read x
November 29, 2012
As with all Archer's books this is brilliantly written. Unlike anything he's ever written this is a real eye opener.
Can't wait to read the next 2 parts.
May 5, 2022
Jeffrey Archer’s riveting account of his first three weeks in prison after being sentenced to four years for perjury. His diary takes us through his time at Bellmarsh day by day, the routine of prison life, food, work, entertainment etc, and above all we get to know his fellow prisoners, amazing characters, some of whom have fascinating stories to tell. I would warmly recommend this book to anyone who might be contemplating embarking on a life of crime - this book will cure you of the impulse.
July 4, 2022
Rich people are a curse on society.
That's a quote from my best friend, which I feel fits the theme of this review nicely.
I'll preface this by saying that before I picked it up, I didn't really know who Jeffrey Archer was outside of a novelist. I picked this up in a secondhand bookshop because I like reading about prison experiences, and it was only something like £2.
My first takeaway from this is that I wish they'd left him in Belmarsh for his entire four year sentence. I've never had to read the words of someone quite so out of touch with reality - the man spent not even 22 full days behind bars for committing a crime he was definitely guilty of, and has the worst woe is me attitude to every aspect.
The guy had piles of fanmail delivered to his cell every day. He was allowed to walk the hallways unaccompanied. He had other prisoners desperate to do favours and give him things. He had family friends taking his wife on yachting trips and on safari. Yet he's hard done to because he might have to drink tap water at some point.
Archer makes this whole argument that he isn't treated any differently than other prisoners, and it's all a load of crap made up by the tabloids. But one semi-threatening incident outside and he has prisoners on rotation to protect him. He has prison staff treating him like a human being - like a Lord - and asking if he's comfortable and settling in okay.
To be fair, I'm sure most of this is made up to thwart his enemies or whatever, to show them that 'well, prison wasn't so bad after all'. There's reams of paragraphs where he's just pretending other prisoners were parroting his own opinions back at him - that his judge was a meanie, that his secretary is a bitch, that the guy who got off should rot in hell.
Then there's all the sniping at Labour, but, I'm sorry Mr Archer - what exactly have the Tories done for prison reform for the 12 years they've been in power? Oh, yeah, made extra spaces in an already overcrowded system to squish more prisoners in together!
This book is basically an echo chamber for his incredibly narrow world view, in which he's treated a bit more like a regular citizen for 22 days and finds it a harrowing experience.
I think it's summed up nicely when he's down to his last two inches of bottled (Highland Spring) water, in which he asks his readers: "Have you ever had to measure the water you had left?"
Yes. I've done that in school, when I wasn't allowed to refill bottles by teachers. I've done it in work, when I had no access to buy another bottle. I've done it on aeroplanes, on trains, on a hot day at an assault course. I think the better question is who hasn't had to do that?
Just drink the damn tap water.
The one good part of this book was when Archer wasn't the one narrating, and he handed over to the other inmates. Fletch's story, in particular, and the insights about drugs and staffing shortages, were really interesting.
Hearing about Archer's dislike of prison food was not.
That's a quote from my best friend, which I feel fits the theme of this review nicely.
I'll preface this by saying that before I picked it up, I didn't really know who Jeffrey Archer was outside of a novelist. I picked this up in a secondhand bookshop because I like reading about prison experiences, and it was only something like £2.
My first takeaway from this is that I wish they'd left him in Belmarsh for his entire four year sentence. I've never had to read the words of someone quite so out of touch with reality - the man spent not even 22 full days behind bars for committing a crime he was definitely guilty of, and has the worst woe is me attitude to every aspect.
The guy had piles of fanmail delivered to his cell every day. He was allowed to walk the hallways unaccompanied. He had other prisoners desperate to do favours and give him things. He had family friends taking his wife on yachting trips and on safari. Yet he's hard done to because he might have to drink tap water at some point.
Archer makes this whole argument that he isn't treated any differently than other prisoners, and it's all a load of crap made up by the tabloids. But one semi-threatening incident outside and he has prisoners on rotation to protect him. He has prison staff treating him like a human being - like a Lord - and asking if he's comfortable and settling in okay.
To be fair, I'm sure most of this is made up to thwart his enemies or whatever, to show them that 'well, prison wasn't so bad after all'. There's reams of paragraphs where he's just pretending other prisoners were parroting his own opinions back at him - that his judge was a meanie, that his secretary is a bitch, that the guy who got off should rot in hell.
Then there's all the sniping at Labour, but, I'm sorry Mr Archer - what exactly have the Tories done for prison reform for the 12 years they've been in power? Oh, yeah, made extra spaces in an already overcrowded system to squish more prisoners in together!
This book is basically an echo chamber for his incredibly narrow world view, in which he's treated a bit more like a regular citizen for 22 days and finds it a harrowing experience.
I think it's summed up nicely when he's down to his last two inches of bottled (Highland Spring) water, in which he asks his readers: "Have you ever had to measure the water you had left?"
Yes. I've done that in school, when I wasn't allowed to refill bottles by teachers. I've done it in work, when I had no access to buy another bottle. I've done it on aeroplanes, on trains, on a hot day at an assault course. I think the better question is who hasn't had to do that?
Just drink the damn tap water.
The one good part of this book was when Archer wasn't the one narrating, and he handed over to the other inmates. Fletch's story, in particular, and the insights about drugs and staffing shortages, were really interesting.
Hearing about Archer's dislike of prison food was not.
October 22, 2013
The best part about listening to audio books is the ability to determine when a piece of writing is overwrought or too verbose. Since I cannot skip a paragraph or a page, often, this malady makes me quit the book and choose another. This was not the case with Jeffery Archer’s memoir of his first three weeks in prison. I listened to it even when I had only 10 minutes drive because I wanted to hear more.
The fall from greatness alone creates tension: Archer was not only a bestselling novelist but also a former member of the British House of Lords when he was convicted of perjury in 2001. While the memoir did not lay out his case for the reader to judge its merit, it does become obvious that the justice served was too heavy handed, complicated by other twists of injustice. However, this is not what the book is about.
Written in a succinct, easy-to-follow timeline, Archer managed to condensed the long hours and days of imprisonment into a fast-moving account of his time and the people he’d met. Since he was confined in a prison with hard criminals and murderers (another form of unjust punishment,) he was submerged in a world that until then he’d never even glimpsed from afar. The cast of characters is interesting, but mostly are the author’s observation of the conditions that had brought some of them to become criminals and how the prison system hardened them into drug addicts or turns petty criminals who should not have been placed there into hopeless cases.
With the sharp-eyed introduction of each of these characters the story of Archer’s imprisonment becomes utterly compelling. The projection of the shortcomings of the British penal system onto our own is not far-fetched, and a close examination of its inner working is unfortunately both relevant and insightful.
The fall from greatness alone creates tension: Archer was not only a bestselling novelist but also a former member of the British House of Lords when he was convicted of perjury in 2001. While the memoir did not lay out his case for the reader to judge its merit, it does become obvious that the justice served was too heavy handed, complicated by other twists of injustice. However, this is not what the book is about.
Written in a succinct, easy-to-follow timeline, Archer managed to condensed the long hours and days of imprisonment into a fast-moving account of his time and the people he’d met. Since he was confined in a prison with hard criminals and murderers (another form of unjust punishment,) he was submerged in a world that until then he’d never even glimpsed from afar. The cast of characters is interesting, but mostly are the author’s observation of the conditions that had brought some of them to become criminals and how the prison system hardened them into drug addicts or turns petty criminals who should not have been placed there into hopeless cases.
With the sharp-eyed introduction of each of these characters the story of Archer’s imprisonment becomes utterly compelling. The projection of the shortcomings of the British penal system onto our own is not far-fetched, and a close examination of its inner working is unfortunately both relevant and insightful.
October 31, 2019
I read Jeffrey Archer's Kane and Abel when I was about 12 after seeing the mini-series on TV and I loved both. I was curious about these prison diaries as I do remember the perjury trial being on the news and being surprised by the length of the sentence he got. I honestly don't remember any details of that trial so I certainly can't share any thoughts on his guilt and for legal reasons I imagine, there is not much about the content of the trial, only what Archer regards as the tainted evidence of his former secretary and the bias of the trial judge. What I can comment on is how good an author the man is both in his works of fiction, and in these prison diaries. It takes a good writer to make being locked up for most of each day, stuck in the same routine, yet make it so compelling to read.
What I liked about Archer here is how he made every effort to settle into the routine and get to know his fellow prisoners. There are no demands for special privileges, no lording it over everyone, and he is also happy to help other prisoners with letters, basic legal advice, and he shares the stories of these individual prisoners with empathy yet is pragmatic about the truth of what he is told. The story of Fletch is truly horrifying yet there are moments of great humour in amongst the misery. Prisoners and guards alike are happy to share their complaints about the system with Archer, knowing he is writing a book and there was no attempt to stop him doing so. I was also interested in the routine, shocked by how little money was spent on food for each prisoner and interested in the day to day grind. It was a fascinating read.
What I liked about Archer here is how he made every effort to settle into the routine and get to know his fellow prisoners. There are no demands for special privileges, no lording it over everyone, and he is also happy to help other prisoners with letters, basic legal advice, and he shares the stories of these individual prisoners with empathy yet is pragmatic about the truth of what he is told. The story of Fletch is truly horrifying yet there are moments of great humour in amongst the misery. Prisoners and guards alike are happy to share their complaints about the system with Archer, knowing he is writing a book and there was no attempt to stop him doing so. I was also interested in the routine, shocked by how little money was spent on food for each prisoner and interested in the day to day grind. It was a fascinating read.
October 29, 2020
I have always wondered what it would be like for a civilized law abiding person to be placed in jail - this pretty much answers that question.
June 28, 2016
I listened to this book while reading a book about someone in an American prison in Arizona. The differences were shocking. Both writers came out of prison changed and, I suppose "reformed," but the prison in Arizona had so many human rights violations that it was difficult to read. Archer points out well that the worst thing about being in prison is being separated from those he loves and the outside world. Is the barbarism in many US prisons what criminals deserve, or do we want to give people the tools to change? It's a big topic and one I've thought about a lot since I volunteered with prisoners 15 years ago. I didn't love the book, but read in conjunction with the other book, it did make me think.
May 6, 2013
It is like reading a history chronicle. Zero feelings only facts. I couldn't care less about how things were in his prison so many decades back.
I can't get into the main characters shoes at all. If you like reading facts/news/gk stuff then you might like this book.
Ex. "I enter my cell, it is XX by XX dimensions. It has x y z objects. I go to sleep. I wake up. I don't know the time. I then eat my lunch. I eat x, y, z for lunch. Alarm is sounded. I look at so and so. Then I walk back to my cell. etc."
I can't get into the main characters shoes at all. If you like reading facts/news/gk stuff then you might like this book.
Ex. "I enter my cell, it is XX by XX dimensions. It has x y z objects. I go to sleep. I wake up. I don't know the time. I then eat my lunch. I eat x, y, z for lunch. Alarm is sounded. I look at so and so. Then I walk back to my cell. etc."
August 31, 2009
Such an annoying, arrogant, obnoxious man, so I have to say a large part of my pleasure in reading this book was a certain amount of schadenfreude. But it does also provide an interesting fly on the wall view into what everyday life in prison is like (and a high category prison for rapists and murderers at that); the tedium, the bad food, the mindless bureaucracy, and yet more tedium.
A quick easy read (like most Jeffrey Archer books).
A quick easy read (like most Jeffrey Archer books).
June 27, 2011
Lord Archer got convicted and sent to prison.
Lord Archer met some unsavory characters while in said prison.
Lord Archer met some criminals that weren't so bad.
Lord Archer met convicts who were a product of their environment.
Lord Archer mingled with society's rejects and lived.
Lord Archer admits to the judicial system being a failure.
Lord Archer is still a pretentious prat - however he almost redeemed himself writing this book.
Almost.
Lord Archer met some unsavory characters while in said prison.
Lord Archer met some criminals that weren't so bad.
Lord Archer met convicts who were a product of their environment.
Lord Archer mingled with society's rejects and lived.
Lord Archer admits to the judicial system being a failure.
Lord Archer is still a pretentious prat - however he almost redeemed himself writing this book.
Almost.
March 31, 2021
I’ve read some Jeffrey Archer’s books, but never thought that he was an ex prisoner in the famous Belmarsh Prison (Max security prison) back in 2001.
This book basically it’s a dairy of his daily routin, social gatherings which were few as he was in a solitary.
But hey the phrase who got stuck in my head was this:
This book basically it’s a dairy of his daily routin, social gatherings which were few as he was in a solitary.
But hey the phrase who got stuck in my head was this:
December 17, 2023
One might find the narrative to be self-serving or lacking a deeper empathy of certain aspects of prison life or other more regular inmates.
Also, opinions on Archer's sincerity in his self-reflection has been called in question since.
Also, opinions on Archer's sincerity in his self-reflection has been called in question since.
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