Heaven: A Prison Diary Volume 3 [Paperback]

Jeffrey Archer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 25, 2006 | Series: Prison Diary (Book 3)

Heaven, Jeffrey Archer's final volume in his trilogy of prison diaries, covers the period of his transfer from a medium security prison, HMP Wayland, to his eventual release on parole in July 2003. It includes a shocking account of the traumatic time he spent in the notorious Lincoln jail and the events that led to his incarceration there, and also shines a harsh light on a system that is close to its breaking point.

 

Told with humor, compassion, and honesty, the diary closes with a thought-provoking manifesto that will be applauded by reform advocates and the prison population alike.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In 2001, bestselling novelist Archer (Sons of Fortune; etc.) was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for perjury. Volume one of his diaries detailed his first 22 days at a facility for violent offenders; volume two described his move to a place mostly populated by drug offenders and armed robbers. Volume three opens on Day 89, as Archer arrives at North Sea Camp, an "open" prison for well-behaved lifers and convicts nearing parole. As hospital orderly, Archer has certain perks—a private room with bath—and a full work schedule, essential for staving off prison's big challenge: boredom. Being a writer helps; he fills the hours writing his diary and interviewing fellow inmates. There's a whole lot of tedious "what I ate for breakfast"-type entries which make a strong case for how dull prison life really is. There's no discussion anywhere of Archer's crime and little talk of British Conservative politics; the focus stays on daily prison life. Archer's fiction fans will read this volume just to see him home free; for prison reform advocates, the entire series may open doors to Archer's other work.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

Praise for Jeffrey Archer:
 
"The books form the most detailed and illuminating account of life spent under lock and key since Dostoyevsky."  
---Mail on Sunday (UK)
 
"Compelling reading. . . . Archer knows how to tell a story.  He exposes real problems in the penal system."
---Houston Chronicle on A Prison Diary
 
"A tale that is not only important but true."
---The Washington Post on A Prison Diary
 
"The finest thing that he's ever written . . . so clear and crisp is the prose, a vivid and almost 'live' account that bubbles with Dickensian detail and a Shavian sense of outrage…. Riveting."
---Independent on Sunday (UK) on A Prison Diary
 
"Surprisingly effective . . . a devastating critique . . . written simply and directly."
---Sunday Times (UK) on A Prison Diary
 
"False Impression…may be a worthy successor to the still bestselling The Da Vinci Code….Sail along from one high crime to the next."
---Liz Smith, The New York Post
 
"Archer's usual plot twists and fast pace make for an enjoyable page-turner."
---Library Journal (starred review) on False Impression

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 480 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin (July 25, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312354797
• ISBN-13: 978-0312354794
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.5 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #422,131 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jeffrey Archer was educated at Oxford University. He has served five years in Britain's House of Commons, fourteen years in the House of Lords and two in Her majesty's prisons, which spawned three volumes of highly acclaimed Prison Diaries. All of his novels and short story collections--including Kane and Abel, Sons of Fortune, and False Impression--have been international bestsellers. Archer is married with two children and lives in London and Cambridge.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting look into the system, May 23, 2007

By 

Meaghan Alysse Heffner "dancingfool1234" (Hershey, PA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Prison Diary (v. 3) (Hardcover)

Prison Diary is, by far, one of the most interesting books I have ever read. While some believe that Archer is egocentric (he does talk about himself quite a bit), I believe this adds importance to the story. Archer was part of the political system, yet he had no idea how horribly the prisons were run. He is now experiencing day to day life in the highest security prison in England. For a first-time offender, that has to be extremely overwhelming! He may complain about his conditions and the ordeals of his daily life, but wouldn't you if you were given a four year sentence for something that should have only gotten community service? His stories of the drug dealings, the prisoners inside the "lifers" wing, and the problems the guards face bring a new insight into prison life. Because Archer was not the "typical" con, everyone felt as if they could talk to him, thus, making this a well-rounded novel on the system. Overall, this is a well-written novel sure to shake things up a bit.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best of The Three Diaries, August 9, 2006

By 

E. Clinton (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Heaven: A Prison Diary Volume 3 (Paperback)

This is the final volume of three volumes about Jeffrey Archer's Prison experience following his conviction for perjury and perverting the course of justice in 2001.

Archer gives the reader an excellent picture of what it is like to be in prison in the United Kingdom. He writes pithy descriptions of some of his colleagues, including two of them who were model prisoners only to reoffend shortly after they were released. His comments on the drug problem in prisons are almost certainly applicable to prisons here in the United States as well.

This book is easy to read, hard to put down, and does not waste words or descriptions. There is also plenty of Archer's good humor. He expresses his unhappiness at the people who turned on him and testified against him, but does not indulge in self-pity. This book is well worth reading.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perplexed, May 31, 2010

By 

Robert M. Speed "easy reader" (Des Moines, Iowa United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Heaven: A Prison Diary Volume 3 (Paperback)

I have read most of Lord Archer's works; I find them absolutely fascinating and spell-binding. However, in some of the previous reviews, I notice the word "novel" and "self-absorbed" used. These are not novels; these are real-life experiences of an Englishman's years in prison. Would you not expect to find "I" used frequently in a diary? Personally, I found the three diaries spell-binding, and would recommend them to Archer fans--of whom there are many!