Prison is an unknown world for most of us. It is a place where time stops and lives are held in suspension, taken out of circulation. Amongst the jail population are the dangerous inmates: killers and rapists, gang "hit-men" and serial offenders. They are the most notorious, their reputations sometimes enhanced by glamour, horrendous tales of their misdeeds and by their very incarceration. Britain's Most Notorious Prisoners tells the stories of some of their lives inside the "Big House" where prison culture becomes a strange, unreal community and where the prison service has had to learn to cope with those who live by their own morality rather than the law of the land. Here are stories about some of the most famous inmates: Ruth Ellis, the Krays, "prison superstar" Charles Bronson, the Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe, the cannibalistic Dennis Nilsen, the evil child-killer Ian Brady, Beverley Allitt, "Razor" Smith as well as chilling accounts concerning long forgotten villains. On the way read about Oscar Wildes's time in Reading jail, about spies and political prisoners and Jeremy Bamber's long campaign to assert his innocence. AUTHOR: Stephen Wade is a prolific crime historian and lecturer who has known the inside of several prisons, working as a writer in residence. Stephen's interests include the oral history of prison life, the death cell, the executioner's experience and the difficult work done by prison officers and staff. His most recent publications are DNA Crime Investigations, Tracing Your Criminal Ancestors and Kicked into Touch, based on prison experiences. SELLING POINTS: ? First detailed work on "famous" and "forgotten" prison inmates. ? Set in culture of prison and social context. ? Original research experienced true crime author. ? Twentieth century cases. ? Wide appeal, from True Crime enthusiast to general reader. ILLUSTRATIONS: 30 b&w illustrations *