Angola, Louisiana State Penitentiary: A Half-Century of Rage and Reform

Angola, Louisiana State Penitentiary: A Half-Century of Rage and Reform by Anne Butler and C. Murray Henderson “Who but Anne Butler, with her meticulous probing research and her gentle moving style, her vividly complete and colorful characterizations and her social conscience, could uncover for us the spark of humanity in even coldblooded killers and make us care so deeply. She is one of the best writers in Louisiana today, and her books all matter, whether they are preserving the past or urging change for the future. This one matters a great deal.” –Damon Veach, syndicated columnist and author “There is rich and important material here. Our prison system and the way we handle those we consider criminals are among the greatest challenges facing our society today. Murray Henderson’s experience in leading one of the country’s most notorious prisons out of the Dark Ages should arouse interest and concern in both the past and present conditions of our prisons.” –Wilma Dykeman, historian