Borstal Boy. London: Hutchinsons, 1958. First Edition. Pp, 343. Frontispiece portrait of the author. Publisher’s mauve boards, title lettered in silver to spine in pictorial dust jacket designed by B.S. Brio.  Jacket lightly chipped at head of spine, spotting to endpapers, otherwise a nice copy.

At just sixteen, Brendan Behan was arrested in Liverpool in 1939 for carrying a suitcase filled with explosives, resulting in a three-year sentence at a Borstal—a juvenile detention centre in England. His time there is vividly captured in this memoir, offering a compelling day-to-day portrayal of life in such institutions. From the rigid structure of meal times to the surprisingly individualised religious services—each tailored to the inmates’ beliefs—the book paints a detailed picture.

Prisoners were given work assignments, often labouring in fields or picking fruit, but Behan’s prior apprenticeship in Ireland secured him a coveted role as a painter.

His wit and charisma made him a favourite among fellow inmates, adding a layer of camaraderie to his otherwise gruelling experience.