Inside Broadmoor

Up Close and Personal with Britain's Most Dangerous Criminals

By: Jonathan Levi, Emma French

Narrated by: Karl Jenkinson

Length: 5 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's Summary

'There is time and then there is Broadmoor time.'

Broadmoor. Few place names in the world have such chilling resonance. For over 150 years, it has contained the UK's most violent, dangerous and psychopathic.

Since opening as an asylum for the criminally insane in 1863 it has housed the perpetrators of many of the most shocking crimes in history; including Jack the Ripper suspect James Kelly, serial killers Peter Sutcliffe, John Straffen and Kenneth Erskine, armed robber Charles Bronson, gangster Ronnie Kray, and cannibal Peter Bryan.

The truth about what goes on behind the Victorian walls of the high security hospital has largely remained a mystery, but now with unprecedented access TV journalist Jonathan Levi and cultural historian Emma French paint a vivid picture of life at Broadmoor, after nearly a decade observing and speaking to those on the inside.

Including interviews with the staff, its experts and the patients themselves, Inside Broadmoor is the most comprehensive study of the institution to-date. 

Published at the dawn of a new era for the hospital, this is the full story of Broadmoor's past, present and future and a dark but enlightening journey into the minds of Britain's most dangerous and how they are treated.

©2019 Jonathan Levi and Emma French (P)2019 Bonnier Books UK

Glowing reviews......

With respect, this book is almost like a holiday brochure. With glowing reports of Broadmoor, the staff and prisoners.
I was quite tempted to book a holiday there!
The only thing missing was a Unicorn farting rainbows 🌈
It felt far to twee, and biased towards happy clappy outcomes.

interesting

it was interesting on the history of the building , not sure we needed to know about longstanding staff who worked there , not enough psychology for me regards personality disorders more a history lesson and costing

Made me think !

This was a very interesting look at life in the High Security estate. As an employee of HMP I found that it made me think differently about people being unaware of the crimes they commit. How do we deal with that ?

Great

Fabulous narrating, perfect voice.

Hard facts (and sometimes hard to listen to!) told in an engaging and non sensational way. Covers the history, use and future of Broadmoor and also some of its dark past including the one criminal who wasn’t a patient, but a welcomed visitor and holder of keys, Jimmy Saville.

Some really sad stories that will stay with me of patients that were doomed to go there from childhood and hope that things are much better today than in the 80’s when it was ‘notorious’ and known more for the people it housed than the work it did.

A brilliant book for anybody interested in crime and procedures, and history.

Fascinating

Well narrated history of mental health hospitals. A good mixture of individual cases and staff experiences. Highly recommended.

excellent listen

growing up near Broadmoor this brought it back to life very informative excellent narrator .

interesting read from start to finish.

From the history of Broadmoor to the patients that have lived here, i really enjoyed this book. the only criticism i would say is that some names have been altered to protect families and victims but i would like to know more about their cases/crimes. Still a very good book.

Robustly and sensitively researched

A fascinating insight, that's factual and not sensationalist. A riveting listen, I couldn't drag myself away!

fantastic book

brilliant, I grew up in Crowthorne and broadmoor was a big part of the village life

Great read

A fascinating insight into this institution am reading this at the moment and enjoying it