The Funhouse Mirror

Book excerpt: "Prisons are hard places to get into and harder yet to get out of," writes Robert Ellis Gordon as he takes you on a remarkable eight-year journey into the Washington State corrections system. As a writing teacher in the state¿s prisons from 1989 until 1998, Gordon had the unique experience of gaining access to the system¿s darkest realms while still being free to walk away from penitentiary confines at the end of the day. His account is aided by essays and stories contributed by six extraordinary inmates--works that give this book an unforgettable edge. Together, Gordon and his students provide revealing glimpses of this vast secret-laden subculture of incarcerated individuals, which nationwide comprises more than two million U.S. citizens. Here is a gallery of portraits of prison life, from the female guard who tantalizes male inmates with her sexuality to the terrified young fish trying to stave off other prisoners. The stories are jarring, harsh, compelling. A surprising--and frequently searing--examination of the prison experience, seen from both inside and out¿ memorable and gripping."--Kirkus Reviews