Subject
Prisons -- France -- History Books
Best books
Arthur Griffiths
Early French Prisons Le Grand and Le Petit Châtelets; Vincennes; The Bastile; Loches; The Galleys; Revolutionary Prisons
"Early French Prisons" by Arthur Griffiths is a historical account written in the late 19th century. The work delves into the evolution and conditions of prisons in France, focusing on significant prisons such as the Bastille, Vincennes, and the Conciergerie. Griffiths, drawing from his experience as an inspector of prisons, aims to explore the dark history of incarceration and punishment in early French society, reflecting on the socio-political environment of the time. At the start of the book, Griffiths introduces the origins and functioning of the judicial system in feudal France, describing how the prison system developed alongside increasing royal absolutism. He details the nature of various prisons, such as the Grand and Petit Châtelets in Paris, emphasizing the inhumane conditions, types of confinement, and the societal implications of imprisonment—ranging from moral degradation to torture. The author provides vivid examples of the treatment of prisoners, illustrating how these institutions played a central role in the extremities of justice and the political machinations of the monarchy. This opening portion sets the stage for a deeper examination of the notorious figures who inhabited these prisons and the historical events that shaped their legacies.
Arthur Griffiths
Non-Criminal Prisons English Debtor's Prisons and Prisons of War; French War Prisons; American War Prisons with References to Those of Other Lands
"Non-Criminal Prisons" by Arthur Griffiths is a historical account written in the late 19th century. The book explores the nature and treatment of prisoners in various types of non-criminal prisons, including English debtor’s prisons and military detainment facilities throughout history. Griffiths delves into the treatment of individuals confined, often unjustly, for debts or as prisoners of war, highlighting the inherent cruelty and societal implications of such practices. The opening of the work presents an introduction to the concept of non-criminal imprisonment, discussing the historical context in which individuals who had committed no real crime were confined. Griffiths tackles the harsh realities faced by debtors and prisoners of war, detailing how systems were manipulated for financial gain. He reflects on the injustices perpetrated by creditors and the inhumane conditions endured by those incarcerated, providing a critique of the legal systems that allowed such abuses to persist. The author sets the stage for a detailed exploration of specific infamous prisons, their management misdeeds, and the wider societal ramifications of these injustices throughout history.
Arthur Griffiths
Modern French Prisons Bicêtre; St. Pélagie; St. Lazare; La Force; The Conciergerie; La Grande and La Petite Roquettes; Mazas; La Santé
"Modern French Prisons" by Arthur Griffiths is a historical account written in the late 19th century. The book delves into the evolution of the French prison system, particularly focusing on the period following the French Revolution and the subsequent developments in penal practices. Griffiths, who served as an inspector of prisons, discusses the moral and structural dimensions of correctional facilities in France and the challenges they faced in reforming convicts rather than merely punishing them. The opening of the work introduces the topic of prison reform during a transitional period in French history. It outlines the ambitions of the French legislative body post-Revolution to create a new penal system, contrasting with the remnants of a more brutal past. Griffiths narrates historical insights into various notable prisons, including Bicêtre and La Conciergerie, underscoring the dreadful conditions prisoners endured and the ineffectiveness of past punitive methods. Instances of prisoner abuse, the discrepancies between rich and poor inmates, and the lack of reformation strategies highlight the systemic failures of the penal system, setting the stage for deeper examination in subsequent chapters.
R. A. (Richard Alfred) Davenport
The history of the Bastile, and of its principal captives
"The history of the Bastile, and of its principal captives" by R. A. Davenport is a historical account written in the early 19th century. It examines the notorious Paris state prison, detailing its origins, structure, administration, the machinery of lettres de cachet, the daily realities of confinement, and the stories of prominent prisoners across successive French reigns, with a clear moral stance against arbitrary power. The opening of the work sets its scope and purpose: the author admits space constraints, promises accuracy and fairness, and aims to unite information with engagement. It then outlines the book’s breadth via a detailed contents list and a plan of the fortress, before Chapter I gives a close, almost architectural tour of the Bastile—its courts, towers, dungeons, rooms, meagre furnishings, food allowances and abuses, the tiny library, and chapel niches—alongside an explanation of lettres de cachet, their uses and abuses, and the secrecy that shrouded arrests, correspondence, illness, death, and burial. Vivid particulars include corrupt provisioning, the suppression of letters, bans on tools and even compasses, night-time isolation, medical delays, refusal to permit wills, and the masking of identities after death; a first-person narrative of an eight-month inmate illustrates the routine of arrest, processing, confinement, limited exercise, controlled reading, and ultimate release with none of his letters delivered. Chapter II begins the chronological history: the term “Bastile,” early Paris bastiles, the founding efforts of Stephen Marcel and later enlargements by Hugh Aubriot (whose downfall to university and clerical hostility and brief liberation during a popular rising are recounted), then political imprisonments under Charles VI, including Noviant and La Rivière, the fall of Montaigu, and the factional struggle between Burgundians and Armagnacs centered in Paris. It closes amid the rise and peril of Provost Peter des Essarts—his seizure of the Bastile and the Burgundian-orchestrated popular siege—where the excerpt breaks off.
Recently surfaced classics