A review by annie_nonnymouse
Alcatraz: A History of the Penitentiary Years by Michael Esslinger

4.0

Well written, thorough account of the notorious island prison in the San Francisco Bay, from the Spanish Explorations of the Golden Coast through its use by the US Military as a fortress, through the penitentiary years, and the 1969 Occupation, this book is loaded with histories, photographs, diagrams, profiles, stories, legends, and copies of official documents related to the crimes, criminals, guards, wardens, and escape attempts at The Rock. Highly enjoyable if you like historical accounts, hard-boiled gangster stories, and peeking into the workings of the criminal justice system. One of my favorite coffee table textbooks.