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Letters from Alcatraz Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 287 ratings

This special audiobook edition has been completely revised and updated with new content including author interviews with James "Whitey" Bulger and a new chapter on Mickey Cohen.

Note: This audiobook contains graphic depictions of crime and prison violence. Alcatraz Island was home to some of the nation's most notorious criminals.

Prisoners include Al Capone, Mickey Cohen, James "Whitey" Bulger, George "Machine Gun" Kelly, Robert Stroud - the Birdman of Alcatraz, Alvin Karpis, Henri Young, John and Clarence Anglin, and Roy Gardner. In Michael Esslinger's latest book, Letters from Alcatraz, the prisoners' stories come to life in their own words. With over 20 years of research, Esslinger, author of Alcatraz: Definitive History of the Penitentiary Years, has salvaged and compiled an extraordinary collection of inmates' letters, many never before published. Letters From Alcatraz includes a foreword by former Alcatraz Officer Larry Quilligan and over 125 letters and original correspondence from inmates both on and off the Rock. Letters From Alcatraz is an epic exploration of a secret cloak-and-dagger culture once hidden behind a mythical curtain. This book is much more than a mere exercise in myth busting. Paired with its contextual and intrinsic complexities, Letters From Alcatraz grants listeners privileged access to the formidable confinement conditions endured by these inmates along with their compelling portraits, and a thorough overview of the rich history of Alcatraz Island. The depth of feeling in its story, its setting, its cast, and sheer inimitability, these are their lives in prose and the stories of the forgotten....

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Product details

Listening Length 10 hours and 7 minutes
Author Michael Esslinger
Narrator Emil Nicholas Gallina
Audible.com Release Date September 23, 2014
Publisher Ocean View Publishing
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B00NUD3N0S
Best Sellers Rank #370,115 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#3,607 in True Crime (Audible Books & Originals)
#6,226 in Crime & Criminal Biographies
#7,574 in United States History (Audible Books & Originals)

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
287 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book engaging and enjoyable to read. They appreciate the well-written letters and documents from inmates. The information provided is informative and interesting, with good historical value. Readers enjoy the photographs that provide a visual guide and perspective.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

70 customers mention "Readability"67 positive3 negative

Customers find the book engaging and interesting. They appreciate the unique stories and documents about inmates' lives. The book is not too long and provides insights into human nature.

"...This is one of the best books I've read and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in history, Alcatraz, or human emotion." Read more

"...(and letters both before and after inmate transfer) was a very engaging read into the lives of those that spent time on The Rock...." Read more

"...A great read at the people side of these events. The letters make you feel the emotion behind the words and encourage reading further." Read more

"I have to say that I loved reading this book. I found it engaging considering the time period and the criminals that were kept at Alcatraz...." Read more

35 customers mention "Letter quality"26 positive9 negative

Customers appreciate the authenticity of the letters in the book. They find the letters well-written and easy to read, allowing readers to connect with the emotions expressed. The letters are reproduced in their original form as well as typed copies, providing a true representation of the information presented.

"...really give you insight into the prison and gives you the background to make the letters make sense...." Read more

"...Reading these letters provides a very personal note to those that had served time there, such as "Machine Gun" Kelly, or Stroud, "The..." Read more

"...The letters make you feel the emotion behind the words and encourage reading further." Read more

"...The simplicity of this book is wonderful. The author has allowed the former generations of those affected in some way by Alcatraz to come forth...." Read more

30 customers mention "Information quality"30 positive0 negative

Customers find the book informative and interesting. They appreciate the author's research and formulating a book that is well-written. The personal notes and lives of inmates are particularly interesting. Readers appreciate the different perspectives provided by the author.

"...Bird Man of Alcatraz" and for the most part, these men were highly intelligent and ambitious people that had either succumbed to enticing..." Read more

"...This was a very deep look into the people that created this history. A great read at the people side of these events...." Read more

"...I guess it doesn't tell the full story but gives you enough information on what families and inmates went through during the prison sentences...." Read more

"...I think this book will interest many people, not just those interested in history in general or the famous prison. I would certainly recommend it." Read more

24 customers mention "History"24 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's history. They find it interesting and enjoyable, providing an insightful look into Alcatraz Prison's past. The book contains many interesting facts and details about the beginning of the prison.

"...They really give you insight into the prison and gives you the background to make the letters make sense...." Read more

"...It was not only an interesting history lesson on one of America's most famous prisons, but a look inside the lives of the men that were sent there..." Read more

"...It has a good amount of photographs and a good history on how this prison got set up...." Read more

"...Find out the details of the attempted escapes as well as the "Battle of Alcatraz"...." Read more

9 customers mention "Photography"9 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the photographs and letters in the book. They find the pictures interesting and informative, providing a visual guide and perspective on Alcatraz's history.

"...It has a good amount of photographs and a good history on how this prison got set up...." Read more

"...Also, there are pictures of actual documents and letters. I really enjoyed this book." Read more

"I learned more about Alcatraz in this one book than any other. A very in-depth look at the operations of Alcatraz from an inmate perspective...." Read more

"...I loved the photographs and telegraphs...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2013
    I picked this up because I do not know much about Alcatraz and thought reading the letters of prisoners might be an interesting way of learning more. This book went way beyond my expectations! There are several chapters leading into the letters themselves that give the history of the island. I appreciated this as I know a little bit about it, but not more than the basics. This introduction talks about the island before it was the prison and how it became the prison. They really give you insight into the prison and gives you the background to make the letters make sense.

    Each chapter is a different prisoner and their letters. If the prisoner is famous or not, the author explains a bit about the person, why they were in prison and the type of letters this person sent or received. Knowing what the prisoner was in for, how long their sentence was, how long they had been in prison prior to being sent to Alcatraz helped put the letters in context. Within the chapter the author puts a copy of the original letter, then it is transcribed so you can read it. I liked seeing the original letters ever if they were too small on the page to really read them. It was the handwriting and just seeing the ink on paper that struck me.

    This is one of the best books I've read and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in history, Alcatraz, or human emotion.
    7 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on February 18, 2013
    I thought that this collection of letters and internal correspondence from those at Alcatraz (and letters both before and after inmate transfer) was a very engaging read into the lives of those that spent time on The Rock. It was not only an interesting history lesson on one of America's most famous prisons, but a look inside the lives of the men that were sent there either for work or sentence. Reading these letters provides a very personal note to those that had served time there, such as "Machine Gun" Kelly, or Stroud, "The Bird Man of Alcatraz" and for the most part, these men were highly intelligent and ambitious people that had either succumbed to enticing situations or done things to ensure their survival/their family's survival. Granted, not everything is painted in a golden light, but as you read you can certainly feel some sympathy for those that were held in prison and understand that everyone has the ability to do horrible things given the right amount of pressure, and that deep down, human's basic need to communicate with others is a very strong thing.
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on November 24, 2012
    This was my first adventure in reading anything related to Alcatraz. This was a very deep look into the people that created this history. A great read at the people side of these events. The letters make you feel the emotion behind the words and encourage reading further.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 18, 2013
    I have to say that I loved reading this book. I found it engaging considering the time period and the criminals that were kept at Alcatraz. I guess it doesn't tell the full story but gives you enough information on what families and inmates went through during the prison sentences. It has a good amount of photographs and a good history on how this prison got set up. I downloaded this on my kindle but found a few letters that were not able to read well due to small print. I would suggest to see if the Book itself gave you a better read on the photo copy letters. But even with a few letters not able to be read, I am not dissapointed in this book. Most all letters were translated into a typed form. Fantastic!
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on January 8, 2013
    For the most part I thought this was an excellent book and stayed on topic throughout. I would have liked to have seen the letters a little bit closer to the front of the book, or have the title include a couple of words to the effect of "and other knowledge of Alcatraz," as it does take a long time for the reader to get to the actual letter. I found this book captivating for a lot of reasons though. The author has obviously researched his subject well and formulated a book that was both compelling and entertaining. The simplicity of this book is wonderful. The author has allowed the former generations of those affected in some way by Alcatraz to come forth. He has offered space for these voices to tell their own story, untainted.

    I think this book will interest many people, not just those interested in history in general or the famous prison. I would certainly recommend it.
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 5, 2013
    This was a book that was offered free one day so I thought I would take a chance. Boy was I glad that I did! I never really knew the history of Alcatraz, just what I had seen in the movies. This book not only gives a difinitive history of "The Rock", but the stories of the inmates were amazing. You really see that these were real people with real lives. Also, there are pictures of actual documents and letters. I really enjoyed this book.
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 16, 2014
    I learned more about Alcatraz in this one book than any other. A very in-depth look at the operations of Alcatraz from an inmate perspective. Find out the details of the attempted escapes as well as the "Battle of Alcatraz". No matter the genre you read, true crime or some such works, you'll love this one. There is no other like Alcatraz, and the story is itself is unique
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2014
    Thought this would be a great read but it really fell flat for me.

Top reviews from other countries

  • HH
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great gift.
    Reviewed in Canada on May 8, 2018
    I bought this book for my dad as a gift and he said it's a great read. Lots of neat information.
  • john stoddart
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 10, 2017
    Excellent read ,a definite read if you are thinking of visiting San Francisco and Alcatraz,so much information,and some,great photos,all in all a great read
  • ruggedtoast
    4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting but not well formatted on Kindle
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 31, 2013
    This is an interesting and enjoyable book. There is an overview of the history of Alcatraz and then each chapter is devoted to a separate prisoner. Some like Al Capone have a lot of letters and a lot of narrative, others have just a few short lines and a few letters.

    The letters are quite surprising in tone as they often seem to contain a strange amount of reverence for the prison authorities, both from the prisoners and their families. Of course everyone knew their letters were being scanned so maybe they were trying to get them through the censor, or curry favour for other privileges, nevertheless it is interesting and not at all what you'd expect when you read Al Capone, feared nationwide gangland boss, telling his wife how hard he's been working making shoe soles in his earnest wish to prove himself to the warden. Maybe it was code for something else. Overall I found it all quite interesting, though the lack of much extra detailed historical context about the people or prison stops it from being fascinating, and the author states at the beginning its more of an add on for his other book about the Rock. .

    In the Kindle version you get a picture of the letter, and then a transcript. Except where you dont. There are a number of letters, especially past the middle which they havent bothered to transcribe; they are not really readable on the Kindle's 6" screen either, unless you squint and hold it against your nose.

    There is also a duplicated section with Robert Strouds letters reappearing in someone else chapter, and a section which doesnt seem to have been proof read. If you are paying full price and have a choice, I would get the print version.
  • Cruachan
    3.0 out of 5 stars interesting perspective on Alcatraz, but a little repetitive
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 21, 2013
    Having been to Alcatraz I looked forward to seeing the individual stories that would be different from the official blurb. While it offered some interesting insights, I found it to be repetitive. The sketches and drawings were useful but didn't add too much to my experience. Worth a quick read, but not much more.
  • OZAS
    5.0 out of 5 stars Best buy
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 12, 2024
    Best buy