Mazie Caudill holds a copy of the book “Who Would Believe a Prisoner? Indiana Women’s Carceral Institutions, 1848-1920” by The Indiana Women’s Prison History Project.
Submitted photo
Name: Mazie Caudill
Job title: Information services assistant for the Jackson County Public Library
What’s the name of the book and author you are recommending?
“Who Would Believe a Prisoner? Indiana Women’s Carceral Institutions, 1848-1920” by The Indiana Women’s Prison History Project
What made you want to pick up the book in the first place?
The title grabbed my attention right away, and after reading the synopsis, I just knew I had to read it.
Once you got into the book, what made you want to keep reading it?
It was very well written and engaging. It opened my eyes to so many things that never crossed my mind. I wanted to keep reading to learn more.
Once you finished this book, what did you like about it?
I liked that it taught me something new and gave me something to share with other people. I have been retelling the story of “The Duchess of Stringtown” since I put the book down. I love being able to learn more about the past, especially things that happened in my home state of Indiana.
What is this book about?
It is a collective work of history by a group of incarcerated scholars who resurrects the lost truth about the first women’s prison, which happens to mostly take place here in Indiana. A group at the Indiana Women’s Prison started and completed this project from inside and outside the walls of the prison. It tackles the subjects of medical malpractice and abuse, the societal structures that led to the imprisonment of these women in the first place and even some fascinating looks into the relationships between prominent members of Indianapolis’ political, social and economic circles.
Why would you recommend this book to others?
Even if you aren’t typically drawn to historical books, I would consider reading this one. It’s a fascinating look into a part of Indiana’s history that most people don’t know about. Each page, I was learning something new and changing my perspectives on things. It told the stories of so many real women who have largely been forgotten or who were never known in the first place. Their stories are powerful, heartbreaking and inspiring all at once. The fact that these incarcerated and formerly incarcerated scholars were able to pull this off is amazing, and I personally think more and more people should be aware of it.