Customer Reviews

Alcatraz: A Definitive History of the Penitentiary Years

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This is a phenomenal book. I absolutely loved it. Esslinger has accomplished something near impossible in his Definitive History of Alcatraz Island. He provides a very readable narrative that blends a journalistic balance along with a skilled historian's ability to bring a rich depth into this history. This book is an important work to help further unveil the many story legends of the former prison. It has a little something for every reader's interest. The Author has successfully incorporated the story of the prison while interlacing inmate biographies into the historical context of the era.

This book is an essential reference for anyone interested in learning more about this fascinating history. It's a worthy addition to any home history library!

After having read close to 20 books on Alcatraz (I'm hoplessly fascinated by the island's story ever since my first visit there as an 11-year old) I picked this book up with the hope that it would be, as it claims to be, the definitive work.

It is. With the help of close to 1.000 photographs Esslinger effortlessly tells the story from beginning to end without writing clichés about the "Devil's Rock" or misguided rumors of guard brutality. Fascinating and vital reading.

Michael Esslinger has put years of hard work in this book and it shows!
Pouring over thousands and thousands of files, he has condensed it into this massive brick of a book ,with hundreds of photos and files that quench the thirst of Alcatraz buffs young and old. I noticed two negative reviews which have no merit! One reviewer looks like they're the one who had the agenda by only having one review, which was a negative one against this fine book. For the other, Of course there is mention of the horrors in the book. It was always well documented that it wasn't a pleasant experience to be in Alcatraz. Just look at the rules and regulations!! Don't forget, it was supposed to be a tough prison of the damned and not Disneyland!!

Excellent! It certainly helped me in my research for my webpage on Alcatraz.

Mario Gomes, founder of myalcaponemuseum.com

I would like to have had a map of the entire layout of the island as it was originally and as it has changed through the years so as to get a better feeling of what-was-where-when, as it were. Page 388 has a pair of photos labeled as separate cell shots of two of the players in the most famous escape attempt portrayed by Clint Eastwood in "Escape From Alcatraz", but they are clearly two different shots of the same cell.

THAT is about all I can say against this book!

Esslinger does an excellent job amassing facts and staying away from speculation. This is no "Ghosts of Alcatraz", which I was unfortunate enough to buy without reading much of it because it was the only Alcatraz book at Border's that day. No ghost stories, no silly Ripley's 'Believe It Or Not' references to spiritual sightings or sounds. Just plain facts, presented in a concise, readable manner. There are enough photographs to give much insight into the areas one might never see otherwise.

The book is massive at 451 pages, and gives all the details on the various breakout attempts. It has photos or scanned documents on virtually every page. The reader gets more than just information from Esslinger's copy, they walk away with a feel for the convict who is shown as he aged, often at an advanced rate due to prison life, in photos from different years. They see history as it happened with shots of island families being evacuated during hostile actions at the prison. They feel, through precise descriptions, the biting cold and isolation of the guards on the towers and come to know, by seeing the handwriting of officers and wardens on original documents.

I highly recommend this book to anyone wishing to delve deeper into Alcatraz and it's chilling past. As far as I know, there is no better book for the task. It would have been nice to see the aforementioned items included, but it would not stop me from buying this book now, and should not stop you.

Michael Esslinger brilliantly weaves first-hand accounts, testimony and exhaustive research in this incredible book about the Real Alcatraz. The famous escape attempts, celebrated felons and routine of the Rock are explored in thorough insight and detail from those who knew the prison best. After reading this book, one is amazed by the different perceptions and awareness created from this masterpiece. I will never look at the Rock again when I visit next, and neither will you.

Esslinger shines while diaplaying the vivid detail and stories of those who lived on the Rock from its days as a military prison to its closure. A must read for anyone wanting to know about the real Alcatraz, not what has been fabricated and sensationalized in movies or the media.

A Sensational and Incredible read that you must own today!!!

Matt Edwards

Historian Michael Esslinger offers readers an in-depth portrait of the intimidating and seemingly inescapable American prison in Alcatraz: A Definitive History Of The Penitentiary Years. Black-and-white photographs enhance a detailed chronicle of this penal institution and its inmates, from its creation as a Mexican military fortress, to it's first use as an American Civil War facility of incarceration for prisoners of war by the Union in 1861, down to its final closure in 1963. A detailed, in-depth, definitive, informative, and superbly presented account of an infamous institution of American history, Alcatraz is a unique and welcome contribution to Penology Studies and American History reference collections.

I just finished reading this on my Kindle, and I have to say, this is a top level work of research on "The Rock". The history from the island being a important military location to the infamous prison years are well covered, as are some of the most famous/infamous criminals who were residents. Example-Henri Young, the central character in "Murder in the First" has a chapter and it makes you reasses what he was really like. (Hint: he was not the angel/victim he was made out to be)
Loads of great pictues are also present, so you get the gritty feel of prison.

My only issue is that the author sanitizes/white washes the guards and wardens a bit. He makes it seem that they were all on the up and up and that things like beatings and excessive punishments did not happen. Which, we all know most likely did happen more often than the Staff would have liked to admit.

Don't let that little issue stop you..read this book.

This book is incredible. I have always been interested in the history of "Hellcatraz," but have yet to find a writer to put it all together. The pictures are incredible (even on the Kindle version). It is very well written. I've learned about so many other things for the writer's research. I really didn't know who some of the original gangsters were or who the Birdman of Alcatraz was. I feel so much smarter!

Sometimes you come along a book you can just tell is going to be one of your top tens for the year, and this is definitely
one of them. If you have any interest in Alcatraz at all, you simply can't miss with this one.

This is a meticulously-researched and interesting book. Having visited Alcatraz (and volunteered when they asked who wanted to be locked in the solitary cell), I've always wondered about its history. Great photos and documents. I've recommended it to friends as well. Couldn't put it down. (Have also heard/read of many hauntings there.)