Don

The Story of Toronto's Infamous Jail

Häftad, Engelska, 2021

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An in-depth exploration of the Don Jail from its inception through jailbreaks and overcrowding to its eventual shuttering and rebirth.Conceived as a “palace for prisoners,” the Don Jail never lived up to its promise. Although based on progressive nineteenth-century penal reform and architectural principles, the institution quickly deteriorated into a place of infamy where both inmates and staff were in constant danger of violence and death. Its mid-twentieth-century replacement, the New Don, soon became equally tainted.Along with investigating the origins and evolution of Toronto’s infamous jail, The Don presents a kaleidoscope of memorable characters — inmates, guards, governors, murderous gangs, meddlesome politicians, harried architects, and even a pair of star-crossed lovers whose doomed romance unfolded in the shadow of the gallows.This is the story of the Don’s tumultuous descent from palace to hellhole, its shuttering and lapse into decay, and its astonishing modern-day metamorphosis.Speaker's Book Award 2021 — Shortlisted | Brass Knuckles Award for Best Nonfiction Crime Book 2022 — Shortlisted

Produktinformation

Utgivningsdatum2021-04-08
Mått152 x 228 x 25 mm
Vikt446 g
FormatHäftad
SpråkEngelska
Antal sidor272
FörlagDundurn Group Ltd
ISBN9781459745964
UtmärkelserShort-listed for Speaker's Book Award 2021 (Canada)

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Amerikas historia inom Historia och arkeologi
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True crime inom Samhalle och politik

IntroductionAuthor’s NoteIntroduction1. Out with the Old 2. Location, Location, Location 3. Paradise Lost 4. In with the New 5. Cornerstones 6. A Change of Plan 7. Fire8. The End Result 9. Governor of Long Standing10. Greener Pastures11. Folk Hero12. Vera Walks Free13. A Fire Hand14. War Hero15. The Polka Dot Gang16. The Great Escape17. Cop Killers18. The End of the Line19. A New Beginning20. Crowded Corner21. At Death’s Door22. Down with the Don23. From Bad to Worse24. Adaptive Reuse25. Digging Up the Past 26. Makeover27. Remember the DonAcknowledgementsSelected BibliographyImage CreditsIndexAbout the Author

The Don is an impeccably researched, detailed account of the history of Toronto's infamous jail and its inhabitants - some of whom orchestrated the most famous escapes in Canadian history. Lorna Poplak has given us an immensely readable, engaging and entertaining look at a significant piece of Toronto's past. The book comes alive as it describes the good intentions that surrounded the building of the jail, such as the rehabilitation and redemption of the inmates, through to, and including, a candid description of the reality of its often inhumane, fetid and over-crowded conditions. This is a must read for those interested in Toronto's criminal justice history.