Inside the Maze: The Untold Story of the Northern Ireland Prison Service

Methuen Publishing, 2000, hardcover, index, 366 pages, condition: as new.

In 2000, Northern Ireland's notorious Maze Prison shut down after the release of the last terrorist prisoners. This is the full, traumatic story of how it came to be a symbol for the Troubles. This is a very informative work on the Maze Prison (still referred to as "Long Kesh" by republicans), just outside Belfast. Ryder is a journalist by trade and it shows as the work flows seamlessly. The prison has a resonance with all people in Ireland; to some it is the place where the IRA hunger strike clearly demonstrated their commitment to their cause as an escalation of the campaign for "political status", while others see it as the place which held terrorists some 38 of whom escaped and murdered guards in the process. No matter whether you have an opinion or not this is still worth reading.