SKU: 10479030305

Alcatraz: A History of the Penitentiary Years

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Alcatraz: A History of the Penitentiary YearsALCATRAZ the name alone said it all It was meant to send a shudder down the spines of the nation's most incorrigible criminals. It stripped Al Capone of his power. It tamed "Machine Gun" Kelly into a model of decorum. It took the birds away from the Birdman of Alcatraz. When prisoners boarded the boat for Alcatraz, they knew that they had reached the end of the line. Not only was this the toughest of all Federal penitentiaries, but it was also said to

ALCATRAZ - the name alone said it all... It was meant to send a shudder down the spines of the nation's most incorrigible criminals. It stripped Al Capone of his power. It tamed "Machine Gun" Kelly into a model of decorum. It took the birds away from the Birdman of Alcatraz.

When prisoners boarded the boat for Alcatraz, they knew that they had reached the end of the line. Not only was this the toughest of all Federal penitentiaries, but it was also said to be virtually escape-proof. The island was a natural fortress, separated from the mainland by a narrow strait of freezing water and deadly currents. This prison was the U.S. government's drastic answer to the lawlessness unleashed under Prohibition, which continued throughout the "Roaring Twenties" and into the teeth of the Great Depression. Alcatraz, with its damp cold and austere isolation, its rigid discipline and strict rule of silence, was as tough as the criminals that were sent there, and by the time the prison closed down in 1963, "the Rock" had indisputably done its job.

Alcatraz - A History of the Penitentiary Years has sustained as a staple reference for staff members on Alcatraz and remains one of the most comprehensive references chronicling the history. This mammoth reference navigates the island's history through rarely seen documents, interviews and hundreds of pages of historic photographs. Author interviews range from men such as legendary FBI fugitive James "Whitey' Bulger; Dale Stamphill, a principle in the 1938 escape with Doc Barker and Henry Young; to Atom Spy Morton Sobell, the codefendant of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg.

Michael Esslinger thoroughly details the prominent events, inmates, and life inside the most infamous prison in American History. His research included hundreds of hours examining actual Alcatraz inmate case files (including rare original documents from Al Capone, Machine Gun Kelly, and over a hundred others) exploring the prison grounds from the rooftop to the waterfront to help retrace events, escape routes, in addition to conducting various interviews with former inmates & guards. Esslinger interviewed a variety of principle figures, comprised of both convicts and officers who were either involved, on-duty, or on Alcatraz during nearly escape attempt. Interviews included prisoners and officers that covered each era of operations at Alcatraz from the early military period in the late 1920's, through the federal years, 1934 to 1963.

His study has resulted in detailed accounts of all the recorded escape attempts including the Battle of Alcatraz. A detailed account of the 1962 escape of Frank Morris and the Anglin Brothers provides rare insight extracted through photos, and over 1,700 pages of FBI and Bureau of Prisons investigative notes.

Detailed narratives of Alcatraz's most notable inmates who include Robert Stroud (Birdman of Alcatraz), Al Capone, Machine Gun Kelly, Frank Morris, the Anglin Brothers, Doc Barker, Joe Cretzer, Bernard Coy, Miran Thompson, Sam Shockley, and many-many others. Alcatraz: The History of the Penitentiary Years, is a comprehensive reference on the history of Alcatraz and contains one of the most comprehensive archives of inmate and prison life photographs (over 1,000).

WARNING: This book contains graphic depictions of extreme crime and violence and may not be suitable for all readers.



Binding Type: Hardcover
Publisher: Ocean View Publishing
Published: 11/22/2016
ISBN: 9780970461469
Pages: 610
Weight: 3.72lbs
Size: 11.00h x 8.50w x 1.31d
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SKU: 10479030305

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Charlottesville, US
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Nice room divider
Product as described although it took me some time to assemble it. Sturdy, I used it to create a small space for myself as office to work from home in the living room. So that I no longer need to worry about my background when I am in zoom call when working remotely.
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Not easy to put together
It worked sort of. It was not easy to put together and has lots of gaps, but it did add a little division in the room.
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Lake Worth, US
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Light weight and large privacy screen
Color: Black, Color: Black
The privacy screen is light weight and of great quality. The screen can block sight and also is easy to set up. It screen is sturdy and stable. It is a cheap solution for separating paces in rooms. The privacy screen is of black color and good good in many places. It can be folded when not used and does not take much space for storage.
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Tiffany
Houston, US
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Great divider!
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This was really easy to set up and really works to decide the room. The material is dark enough that you have your privacy. Good for the price
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Olivia Tucker
New York, US
★★★★★ 3
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It’s not a bad divider, the instructions are okay but once I figured it out on my own it was easy. The quality is fine I like how it’s made of metal. The only downside is fall for me is the height. I’m 5”4” yet it’s suppose to be 6 feet tall but it seems to be a little shorter than that. If it was taller and the instructions a little more clear it would get 5 stars.
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