Description
Book SynopsisCriminal Womentells the stories of four women who, in attempting to become women of their own making, became deeply involved in crime.
Throughout the book, tales from the underworld and the criminal business world are interspersed with inside accounts of life in the women's prisons Holloway, Styal's Bleak House', Durham's H. Wing, Askham Grange, Pucklechurch and Bullwood Hall.
These stories of criminal women are vivid chronicles of the times in which they have lived. They will be of great interest to anyone concerned with the diversity of ways in which women cope with life in a class-riven and still deeply sexist society.
Trade Review‘These essays make a poignant and purposeful statement which goes behind the rumors and beyond the mythology into a world that is different from men's prison. The women in them speak with the authentic voice of experience; they are survivors as well as victims.’
Mary McIntosh, University of Essex ‘Once again Pat Carlen's readiness to move outside the familiar topics of criminology has paid off. The women who tell their stories in these pages provide a highly readable, sometimes tragic, often comic introduction to a neglected area. We are fortunate indeed that the first book published in this country on the subject of women and professional crime should also be of such high quality as to suggest that it will remain a standard text for many years.’
Laurie Taylor, University of YorkTable of ContentsIntroduction, Pat Carlen
1 Looking for Trouble, Chris Tchaikovsky
2 Christina: In her own Time, Diana Christina and Pat Carlen
3 Jenny: In a Criminal Business, Jenny Hicks and Pat Carlen
4 Josie: Surviving Holloway... and other Women’s Prisons, Josie O’Dwyer and Pat Carlen
Women In Prison, Pat Carlen and Chris Tchaikovsky
Appendix: The Women In Prison Manifesto
