Escape from Alcatraz [Paperback]

J. Campbell Bruce (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2005

In 1963, just weeks before the original publication of this book, the last prisoner was escorted off Devil’s Island and Alcatraz ceased to be a prison. Author J. Campbell Bruce chronicles in spellbinding detail the Rock’s transition from a Spanish fort to the maximum-security penitentiary that housed such infamous inmates as Robert Stroud, aka the Birdman of Alcatraz, and mobster Al “Scarface” Capone. The chapters describing the daring escape attempts by Frank Morris and two accomplices from this “inescapable” prison became the basis for the 1979 Clint Eastwood movie. Discover the intriguing and absorbing saga of Alcatraz, whose name is still synonymous with punitive isolation and deprivation, where America’s most violent and notorious prisoners resided in tortuous proximity to one of the world’s favorite cities.

The true-crime classic first published in 1963 is reissued in this special edition.

Includes archival photos of the prison and prison life.

This story will appeal to Bay Area locals and tourists alike.

Alcatraz hosts more than a million visitors each year.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Dramatic...thrilling...remarkable..." -- Los Angeles Time

"Much more than a prison chronicle, much more than a tale of escape...." -- Chicago --This text refers to the Audio Cassette edition.

From the Publisher

*The true-crime classic first published in 1963 is reissued in this special edition.
*Includes archival photos of the prison and prison life.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Ten Speed Press; First edition. edition (April 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1580086780
• ISBN-13: 978-1580086783
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.6 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #63,824 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #70 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Crime & Criminals  > Penology
  • #74 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > True Accounts > Organized Crime

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Rock History, July 29, 2004

By 

JMack (Chicago) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Escape from Alcatraz (Paperback)

Escape from Alcatraz would be more appropriately named The History of Alcatraz. On most levels, the book is well put together. The number of misspellings is grotesquely unacceptable, but the content is reasonably thorough.

The book begins at the discovery of the San Francisco island by Spanish settlers and continues through the closure of the prison. The book documents each of the attempts to break out of Alcatraz. Unfortunately, no inmate is confirmed to have escaped alive from The Rock. Many of The Rock's most famous inhabitants are discussed including Al Capone. I particularly enjoyed the stories of how the inmates passed their time. Bootlegging took on a new meaning in Alcatraz when inmates made pruno. Pruno often included such exotic combinations as milk and gasoline.

The book is concluded with the closure of the prison. There is no doubt that Alcatraz was a brutal prison that drove some men insane and others to suicide. While it was not a deterrent to crime, it was an effective punishment for crime. Had the condition of Alcatraz not deteriorated so much since the Civil War, it may still be punishing criminals for there crimes.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The history of the Rock, February 22, 2000

By 

Dudley Ristow - See all my reviews

This review is from: Escape from Alcatraz (Paperback)

Escape from Alcatraz depicts the full history of this infamous prison stronghold. It reflects how life was on the Rock and details the circumstances when and how 23 convicts attempted or succeeded in escaping from the island prison - the latter few never to be ever seen or heard of again. If you are interested in Alcatraz you need go no further than reading this book - it is really that good !

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Brief History of Alcatraz and Its Inhabitants, September 17, 2008

By 

Nino Brown "reader" (Wisconsin) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Escape from Alcatraz (Paperback)

J. Campbell Bruce tells the story of the famous island in San Francisco Bay from its "discovery" in the late 1700's to its decommissioning in the 1960's. Understandably, the story focuses on the lurid period during which Alcatraz was a brutal prison for America's most difficult prisoners. Given its reputation for inescapability the story of Alcatraz features several daring (and some not-so-daring) attempts to escape. Receiving special attention is the attempt by Frank Morris and two accomplices that may or may not have been the sole successful escape from the Rock. The Frank Morris story, with undoubted debt to this book, later became a legendary motion picture under the same name as this book.

While far from exhaustive, Escape From Alcatraz provides a brief and interesting history of Alcatraz. Some fascinating stories are given only brief mention, e.g. the story of the children of Alcatraz's employees who were raised on the island, most of the relevant players and events are touched upon. The book's special focus on mobster-era prisoners and, especially, possible escapee Frank Morris are understandable and, in fact, quite well done. The narrative of the Morris escape, in particular, reads like a potboiler. Some of the discussion of Alcatraz notables, however, feels a bit gossip columny - more name dropping than content. All in all, a good and quick read for anyone looking for only a brief dip in the frigid waters surrounding Alcatraz.