Fifteen Years in Hell Is the 1885 autobiography of Luther Benson. Benson struggled with alcohol most of his life. His drinking led to his leaving college. Benson made a promise to his mother to not drink, but as so many addicts do he broke his word. This is his story and it is more importantly a plea to others to not follow in his path. His introduction says, ""FIFTEEN YEARS IN HELL," may, to some, seem irreverent or profane, but let me assure any such that it is the mildest I can find which conveys an idea of the facts. Expect nothing ornate or romantic. The path along which you who walk with me will go is not a flowery one. Its shadows are those of the cypress and yew; its skies are curtained with funereal clouds; its beginning is a gloom and its end is a mad house. But go with me, for you can suffer no harm, and a knowledge of what you will see may lead you to warn others who are in danger of doing as I have done. Unless help comes to me from on high, I feel that I am near the end of my weary and sorrow-laden pilgrimage on earth. You who are in the light, I speak to you from the shadow; you who suffer, I speak to you from the depths; you who are dying, perhaps I may speak to you from the world of the dead; in any case the words herein written are the truth."
Sprache
Produkt-Hinweis
Broschur/Paperback
Klebebindung
Maße
Höhe: 235 mm
Breite: 191 mm
Dicke: 7 mm
Gewicht
ISBN-13
978-1-4385-2327-9 (9781438523279)
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Schweitzer Klassifikation
Author and activist Luther Benson was well-known for his memoirs "Fifteen Years in Hell," which detailed his experiences in the late 19th-century American jail system. Benson, who was born in 1838, devoted a large portion of his life to promoting prison reform and imparting his personal knowledge of the difficult conditions encountered by prisoners. Adversity characterized Benson's life, including his false conviction for a crime he did not commit, which resulted in a fifteen-year prison sentence. Benson's drive to bring attention to the inequities of the prison system was fueled by the horrible conditions and abuse he experienced while incarcerated. Benson committed himself to prison reform after being released, speaking out against the cruel treatment of prisoners and supporting rehabilitation as an alternative to punishment. His autobiography, "Fifteen Years in Hell," was a potent testimony to the shortcomings and inequities of the criminal justice system, raising public awareness and assisting with ongoing reform initiatives. Benson's writings are still valued for their influence on campaigns for prison reform and for illustrating how resilient the human spirit can be in the face of hardship. Despite the fact that not much is known about Benson's life outside of his writings and activism, his support of social justice and his significant contributions to both activism and literature have left a lasting legacy.
