The Letter from Prison

The letter from prison discussing deeply felt ethical and religious principles dates to antiquity. In the early modern era, the rise of printing houses in England helped turn these letters into a powerful form of resistance. W. Clark Gilpin's fascinating book looks at how letter writers ranging from archbishops and royalty to country weavers, London apprentices, and Quaker women helped solidify the prison letter as a literary form.
Drawing froma large collection of prison letters written during the reign of Henry VIII and the early part of the English Reformation, Gilpinexplores how the genre evolved within the context of revolution and reform. Prison writers helped develop the prisoner of conscience as a distinct persona and the prison as a place of redemptive suffering where bearing witness had the power to change society.
The Letter from Prison features a diverse cast of characters and a literary genre that combines drama and inspiration. It is sure to appeal to those interested in the English modern era, prison literature, and cultural forms of resistance.