Smith, A. (2013) Her Majesty's Philosophers. Hook: Waterside Press. 9781904380955.
| Item Type: | Book |
|---|---|
| Abstract: | Building on his Guardian pieces about teaching Philosophy in prison, this is Alan Smith’s account in extenso. From introducing Plato to ever-changing groups of hard-nosed prisoners to them wrestling with Bentham, Larkin and Shakespeare, it is packed with insights and unexpected turns. It paints a picture in which worlds collide and conventional morality is turned inside out as ‘new modes of discourse’ change the men’s thinking and ideas. At times surreal the book brings fresh perspectives to the minutiae of prison life: survival, coping, soap, teabags, cell mates, the constant noise and immediacy. And needless to say, the men come up with philosophical gems of their own. Her Majesty’s Philosophers is also about isolation, the long hours, knockbacks and the emotional mutilation of imprisonment; and whilst philosophy is ‘soft and fluffy’ it contrasts starkly with the pragmatic world of prison officers, for whom the Holy Grail is Security, Keys and Prison Craft. The book charts how learning changes lives, especially for prisoners who missed out on formal education, who—once motivated—become voracious readers and extraordinary students. It demonstrates more than any official report the value of a wider agenda than Basic Skills. Prisons have been labelled ‘Universities of Crime’, but colleges are increasingly populated by those who began their studies in a prison cell. In a book packed with wisdom and humour the author laments the fact that prison policy means that this is becoming a far less easy step. |
| Subjects: |
B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > B Philosophy (General) > B52 Study and teaching. Research H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology > HV8301 Penology. Prisons. Corrections H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology > HV8875 Education in prisons |
| Creators: | Smith, Alan |
| Publisher: | Waterside Press |
| Faculties, Divisions and Institutes: |
University Faculties, Divisions and Research Centres - OLD > Research Centre > Centre for Critical and Creative Writing University Faculties, Divisions and Research Centres - OLD > Faculty of Education & Humanities > English and Creative Writing Faculties > Faculty of Education & Humanities > English and Creative Writing Research Centres > Centre for Critical and Creative Writing |
| Date: | September 2013 |
| Date Type: | Publication |
| Place of Publication: | Hook |
| Number of Pages: | 216 |
| Language: | English |
| ISBN: | 9781904380955 |
| Status: | Published / Disseminated |
| Related URLs: | |
| URI: | http://nectar.northampton.ac.uk/id/eprint/6296 |
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