In This Timeless Time: Living and Dying on Death Row in America is a 2012 book by Bruce Jackson and Diana Christian, published by the University of North Carolina Press.[1]
Background
editThe authors are married to one another and Helicher had previously studied prisons for around 40 years.[2] They did not have formal work experience in criminology and history-related jobs.[3]
The title "timeless time" refers to a saying of how staying on death row feels like, as the prisoners are not aware of their ultimate fate.[2]
The authors previously created the documentary film Death Row.[1]
Contents
editThe initial section is a memorial to executed prisoners, reflecting the authors' philosophy opposing the death penalty.[3]
The book has three sections. The first includes photographs of condemned inmates,[4] in the Ellis Unit in Walker County, Texas in 1979.[5] Those inmates had been put to death.[2] Alan G. Pike of Emory University wrote that the death row living situation is "monotonous and oppressive".[5] The book has a total of 113 black-and-white photographs,[4] all in duotone,[1] and twelve inmates were depicted.[2] The photographs make up most of the work.[1]
The second, "Words", discusses the legal processes,[2] the outcomes,[5] and daily lives of death row inmates.[2] This section serves as the captions to the images of the first.[5]
The third, "Working", discusses the processes the authors used to get their research material,[5] and ethics-based arguments regarding the death penalty.[2]
The book includes a DVD containing a 1979 documentary,[2] Death Row, including interviews of Ellis Unit capital punishment prisoners, made by the authors. Pike called it "exceptional".[5]
Reception
editFrances Sandiford, a former librarian of the Green Haven Correctional Facility, wrote that the book was in a "direct, journalistic style, poignant and to the point."[6] She indicated a highly positive review with a star symbol.[4]
Pike wrote that the book is "a uniquely powerful contribution" to the subject and that it has "compelling" components.[5]
Karl Helicher of ForeWord wrote that the book "would benefit" persons interested in the American death penalty and the associated penal system.[2]
Alex Tepperman, a PhD student in history at the University of Florida, concluded that the book "is a moving piece of photojournalism and a fitting argument against the death penalty".[3] Tepperman believed the first part was the best but felt the second and third were not as good.[3]
Publishers Weekly wrote that the book was "comprehensive" and "well-crafted".[1] PW stated that overall the book "raises important questions" about the death penalty and the legal system; the review criticized how there are multiple photographs of different angles of the same events and general repetition at times.[1]
See also
edit- Behind the Walls: A Guide for Families and Friends of Texas Prison Inmates - Guide to the Texas prison system written by a prisoner
- Texas Tough - Book about the Texas prison system
References and notes
editReferences
edit- Helicher, Karl (2012-05-31). "In This Timeless Time". ForeWord.
- Pike, Alan G. (November 2012). "In This Timeless Time: Living and Dying on Death Row in America". Journal of Southern History. 78 (4): 1060–1061. JSTOR 23795726. - PDF pages 12-13/17
- Sandiford, Frances (2012-05-15). "In This Timeless Time: Living and Dying on Death Row in America". Library Journal: 89–90.
- Tepperman, Alex (Spring 2013). "In This Timeless Time: Living and Dying on Death Row in America". Texas Books in Review: 3.
Notes
editExternal links
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