Description

*As heard on Radio 4’s Book of the Week*

‘A true, compassionate and honest account of what it is to work in our prisons.’ Dr Gwen Adshead, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Devil You Know

‘A vivid, unsentimental insight into a world that needs to be seen . . . a powerful reminder of how far we are from rehabilitating our prisons.’ The Observer

‘A superb, compelling book . . . powerful.’ Daily Mail

‘This is a beautifully written account about hope and optimism, of humanity, realism, resilience and the complexity of people.’ Professor David Wilson
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‘The men I have worked with and the staff I’ve worked alongside over the last ten years in prison have taught me strength, compassion, courage, and fundamentally, the need to talk, the need to share and the need to tell these stories. These are the stories of lives lived, lost and taken, behind walls so high we can pretend they hide another world entirely. But at what cost?

Few people leave prison unchanged. It’s a place heavy with suffering, a place where you will find dangerous, vulnerable, and forgotten people. But for Alex South, it was a place where she also found hope.

In this powerful and moving memoir, Alex attempts to make sense of her experiences in prison by confronting the harsh reality of life on the inside and examining them from different angles. In an overwhelmingly masculine environment, where strength and aggression are routinely on show, Alex’s view is particularly important.

Capturing the confusion and contradictions of prison, Alex presents a life that is often hidden from the public. Changing our perceptions, Behind These Doors shows the many devastating, but often inspiring, consequences prison can have.

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‘I was completely gripped whilst reading it – it’s such a powerful memoir and one that shines a light into a world most of the public rarely see.’ Nikki Smith, author of The Beach Party

Publisher Review

'This beautiful book really resonated for me as a true, compassionate and honest account of what it is to work in our prisons; and the massive political challenges that go with incarceration.' Dr. Gwen Adshead, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Devil You Know 'This is a beautifully written account about hope and optimism, of humanity, realism, resilience and the complexity of people - some of whom wear a uniform and others who don't. Oh and it's also an account that's personal, warm and inspiring and so perhaps you'll be surprised when I tell you it's a book about prison and the people who live and work there. I'm just sorry that not all Prison Officers are like Alex South.' Professor David Wilson 'I was completely gripped whilst reading it - it's such a powerful memoir and one that shines a light into a world most of the public rarely see, but need a greater understanding of if the system is to change for the better. A fascinating and heart-breaking insight into those who work in the prison system as well as those incarcerated within it.' Nikki Smith, author of The Beach Party