Classics and Prison Education in the US

'Do not be fooled by this slim volume and its mere 135 pages – though it be but little, it is fierce. This is a mighty book. Eleven short but substantial essays contributed by sixteen scholars comprise this book, which details several Classics-based educational programmes taught to incarcerated people in the United States. There are a wide range of approaches detailed here, and yet this is a very cohesive volume with its contents stressing four discernible interconnected themes. These are: descriptions of how these programmes were devised and structured with candid examinations of their effectiveness; honest appraisals of the value of ancient literature and culture to those who are among the most marginalised in our societies; enthralling reports of the profound experiences many instructors had while teaching in prison; and a willingness to confront some of the most pressing issues facing Classics today... Weshould all read this muscular little book – not only because it poses many prescient and even existential questions about the place of Classics in the world today, but also because it might just inspire a lot more of us to get out there and engage.' - Peter Meineck, The Classical Review

'I cannot celebrate and be thankful enough for this very well executed book. This book will be eye opening and informative to those who teach "the" classics across a variety of institutions, contexts, and levels. It will also be informative to those who have or want to teach in prisons or programs for "returning citizens" or "citizens in transition." The book is full of pedagogical reflections, resources, and evaluations that without question will be extremely useful even to those not teaching in prisons. Further, the pedagogical import of this book reaches beyond the specific context, namely "prison education," because it is also a profound meditation on humanistic pedagogy as such, i.e. what is it that we aim to do as teachers of the "humanities."' - Eduardo Mendieta, Bryn Mawr Classical Review