
Shakespeare Saved My Life
Ten Years in Solitary with the Bard
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Narrated by:
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Cassandra Campbell
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By:
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Laura Bates
Shakespeare professor and prison volunteer Laura Bates thought she had seen it all. That is until she decided to teach Shakespeare in a place the bard had never been before - supermax solitary confinement. In this unwelcoming place, surrounded by inmates known as the worst of the worst, is Larry Newton. A convicted murderer with several escape attempts under his belt and a brilliantly agile mind on his shoulders, Larry was trying to break out of prison at the same time Laura was fighting to get her program started behind bars. Thus begins the most unlikely of friendships, one bonded by Shakespeare and lasting years - a friendship that, in the end, would save more than one life.
©2013 Laura Bates (P)2015 TantorListeners also enjoyed...




















Critic reviews
Provocative
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The story is excellent but it would have been stronger with a different reader.
Must Read!
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To be clear, this book is about prison, not about shakespeare. Despite the author's fan of the subject, it's clear the inmate's passion for Shakespeare is simply due to them being utterly starved of any other intellectual distraction. Although it is interesting how the book will draw comparisons between situations faced by the characters in Shakespeare's plays and those faced by the inmates before they become prisoners, causing them to see those situations in a different light.
I am uncomfortable with how the author sometimes draws comparisons between her experiences and those of the inmates. For example, she on multiple occasions refers to having spent ten years in solitary confinement, when what she really means is she make weekly visits to the prison to volunteer.
Her accomplishments are definitely notable though. She spent a huge amount of time in a risky and intimidating situation, helping to educate prisoners. Although it did accord her some degree of fame, it had a negative impact on her career, in which "publish or perish" is the watchword. So she certainly made sacrifices for what she believes in.
The underlying narrative is clearly the mistreatment of people in prison. How we treat prisoners in ways that would be deemed torture and abuse in any other context. That we should think of imprisonment as a tool for reform, not punishment. Curiously, though, the author never actually comes out and says this. The closest is sharing the prisoner's own opinions on reform. Perhaps she felt the lesson would be more powerful if treated with a bit of subtlety.
I largely recommend this book so that we can all better understand the criminal justice system, and the unfairness and inefficacy thereof. This story makes it clear that criminal justice reform is greatly needed in the US.
A powerful look at life behind bars
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Interesting Story On Many Levels
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Cassandra Campbell's narration was beautifully subtle. I felt as though I was listening to the author tell her own story -- not like someone else reading her book. I love when a narrator can meld seamlessly into the story and virtually disappear. Ms. Campbell does that here.
Redemption & Friendship Change the World.
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amazing insights
narrator wonderfully on track in her voice changes for the different characters, significantly improved the listen
almost has me wanting to read Shakespeare. when she gets the book out on it I might
amazing must listen
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The two learned from each other about overcoming life’s difficulties .
I highly recommend this book to people who work in the prison system as well as college professors and all others.
Life without parole…ever.
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An amazing tale of the human spirit.
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Newton’s perseverance
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Changed lives
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