On The Yard

(Paperback, Main)

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A major American novel, and recognised as such on first publication by Truman Capote, Kurt Vonnegut, and Norman Mailer, On the Yard is arguably the finest work of literature ever to emerge from this country's many prisons, a book of penetrating psychological realism that paints an unforgettable picture of the complex and frightening world of the penitentiary. At the centre of the novel are the intertwined stories of Chilly Willy, in trouble with the law from his earliest years and now the head of the prison's flourishing black market in drugs and sex, and of Paul, wracked with guilt for the murder of his wife and desperate for some kind of redemption. Around these two characters, Braly assembles a cast of characters that reflects every level of the prison hierarchy, from the floor-sweeper to the warden, as well as humanity's seemingly endless capacity for self-delusion and hope. But the final triumph of On the Yard is to present the penitentiary not as an exotic location, an exception to everyday reality, but as an ordinary one, a place every reader will recognise, American to its core.

Reviews

"Surely the great American prison novel" Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.

"Life in prison is the subject of Bralys 1967 classic, now back in print with an introduction by Jonathan Lethem. Braly, who wrote the book while doing time in San Quentin, has an uncommon ear for the rhythms of big house speech. The expertly drawn ensemble cast and institutional insight may remind readers ofOne Flew Over the Cuckoos NestBraly does for prisons what Kesey did for the insane asylum."Publishers Weekly

"A handful of authors have portrayed the human condition of prison life with the indelible stamp of authenticityDostoevski, Alexander Solzhenitisyn, Brendan Behan, and Genet are among them. Now in the same genre comes Malcolm BralysOn the YardHis eye is true and his writing faultless."The Times(London)

Author Bio

Malcolm Braly (1922-1983) was an acclaimed novelist, editor, as well as a convicted criminal. Braly dropped out of high school, began a criminal career, and served several prison terms in various prisons. While in San Quentin, Braly turned to writing and published his first novel, Felony Tank, behind bars. He continued to write even after the completion of his final sentence and produced Shake Him Till He Rattles, It's Cold Out There, and an autobiography. Braly began work on his most acclaimed novel, On the Yard, in prison, but prison officials impeded its progress and Braly was able to complete the novel only after he was off parole. In 1979, On the Yard was made into a movie, directed by Raphael Silver and starring John Heard and Tom Waits. Outside of prison walls, Braly lived in New York City as an editor and freelance writer.