The Big House: Image and Reality of the American Prison (Icons of America)

The Big House is a comprehensive and fascinating exploration of the history and influence of prisons in America.

From their origins as punitive institutions to their current status as symbols of power and control, this book delves into the politics, sex, violence, and idealization of prisons in American popular culture.

With a focus on the realities behind the popular images, The Big House sheds light on the limits of human and institutional power, and the symbolic and iconic qualities that prisons have attained in America's understanding of itself.

Written by Professor Stephen Cox, a leading expert in literature and humanities, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in the complex and fascinating history of prisons in America.