Shakespeare Saved My Life

Ten Years in Solitary with the Bard

By: Laura Bates

Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell

Shakespeare professor and prison volunteer Laura Bates thought she had seen it all. That is until she decided to teach Shakespeare in a place the bard had never been before - supermax solitary confinement. In this unwelcoming place, surrounded by inmates known as the worst of the worst, is Larry Newton. A convicted murderer with several escape attempts under his belt and a brilliantly agile mind on his shoulders, Larry was trying to break out of prison at the same time Laura was fighting to get her program started behind bars. Thus begins the most unlikely of friendships, one bonded by Shakespeare and lasting years - a friendship that, in the end, would save more than one life.

©2013 Laura Bates (P)2015 Tantor

Critic reviews

" Macbeth and Hamlet are the primary targets of examination, but the inmates take fresh approaches to several plays." ( Booklist)

Provocative

A powerful story on several levels. Made me want to read Shakespeare and to rethink the prisons we put ourselves in. Laura and Larry are people I’d like to know!

Must Read!

This is such an important story for the general public and educators alike.
The story is excellent but it would have been stronger with a different reader.

A powerful look at life behind bars

The author, who volunteers extensively in prison (particularly supermax), tells the story of her experiences there, what she sees in prison, of the life prisoners lead. Most notably, there is one prisoner in particular she talks about. A man who went to prison as a teenager and faces life without the possibility of parole. As a prisoner, he's committed violent acts in the past, but now the older version of this man is quiet, compassionate and intelligent, and devours Shakespeare with a passion the author only dreams of seeing in her ordinary college students.

To be clear, this book is about prison, not about shakespeare. Despite the author's fan of the subject, it's clear the inmate's passion for Shakespeare is simply due to them being utterly starved of any other intellectual distraction. Although it is interesting how the book will draw comparisons between situations faced by the characters in Shakespeare's plays and those faced by the inmates before they become prisoners, causing them to see those situations in a different light.

I am uncomfortable with how the author sometimes draws comparisons between her experiences and those of the inmates. For example, she on multiple occasions refers to having spent ten years in solitary confinement, when what she really means is she make weekly visits to the prison to volunteer.

Her accomplishments are definitely notable though. She spent a huge amount of time in a risky and intimidating situation, helping to educate prisoners. Although it did accord her some degree of fame, it had a negative impact on her career, in which "publish or perish" is the watchword. So she certainly made sacrifices for what she believes in.

The underlying narrative is clearly the mistreatment of people in prison. How we treat prisoners in ways that would be deemed torture and abuse in any other context. That we should think of imprisonment as a tool for reform, not punishment. Curiously, though, the author never actually comes out and says this. The closest is sharing the prisoner's own opinions on reform. Perhaps she felt the lesson would be more powerful if treated with a bit of subtlety.

I largely recommend this book so that we can all better understand the criminal justice system, and the unfairness and inefficacy thereof. This story makes it clear that criminal justice reform is greatly needed in the US.

Interesting Story On Many Levels

I really enjoyed the book. I wish there was a follow up after all these years. I found Newton and Dr Bates had a great relationship on so many different levels with a lot of respect for each other.

Just wow.

Absolutely amazing book. Definitely read it!!
This book changed how I look at myself, Shakespeare life and what we can do for others