The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1917-07-19
Books Written in Prison
LONG LIST OF FAMOUS WoRKs PRoDucED nv
MEN AND WOMEN WHILE ''Do1Ne
TINE IN DINSY Cells

lime IN DINdY CELLS
By Paul Regard in The Scrap Book
The literary inspiration which goes ev-
cry month into the making of the Star OF
Hope, that excellent publication written
and edited by the inmates of the various
New York prisons and penitentiaries, con-
tinues tradition many centuries old. In
fact, some of the world most famous books
and essays were composed, exactly as is
the Star Of Hope, in prison. 1t was while
doing time that Boethius composed his
work on the Consultations of Philosophy"
and Grotius, while in prison, devoted
much of his time to study and wrote,
among other works, his notable "Com-
mentary on St. Mark
The list of men and women who, while
imprisoned, wrote books that benefited
both themselves and humanity at large is
long one.
Buchanan, in the dungeon of a monas-
terry in Portugal, composed his excellent
"Paraphrase of the Psalms of David
Cervantes composed ''Don Quixote,
the most agreeable book in the Spanish
language, and the greatest, during his cap
tivity in Barbary.
"Fleta," well-known law production,
was written by person confined in 1.-The
Fleet for debt; the name of the place,
though not that of the author, has thus
been preserved. Another work, ''Fleta
Minor; or, the Laws of Art and Nature in
Knowing the Bodies of Metals, by Sir
John Pettus, 1858, received this title from
the circumstance of Sir Johns having
translated it from the German during his
confinement in the same prison.
Louis XII, when Duke of Orleans, was
long imprisoned in the Tower of Bourges
Applying himself to his studies, which he
had hitherto neglected, he became, in
consequence an enlightened monarch.
Margaret, queen of Henry w, King OF
France, when held captive in the Louvre,
pursued her literary studies and composed
very skillful apology for the irregulari-
ties of her conduct.
Charles of England, during his cruel
confinement at Holmby, wrote his 'Eikor
Basilisk' (''Royal Image, addressed te
his son.
Queen Elizabeth, while imprisoned by
her sister Mary, produced many pleasing
poetic compositions.
Mary, Queen of Scots, during her long
Imprisonment by Elizabeth, produced
many pleasing poems.
During an Imprisonment of eleven years,
Sir Walter Raleigh began his History
of the World,'' which, unfortunately, was
never finished.
Voltaire sketched out and composed the
greater part of the 'Henriade' during his
Imprisonment in the Bastile.
Bunyan wrote the ''Pilgrim's Progress
in prison.
Howell wrote Familiar Letters and
almost all his other works during long
confinement in Fleet Prison.
Freret, when imprisoned liz the Bastile,
was permitted only to have Bayle for his
companion. His dictionary was always
before him, and to this circumstance we
owe his works.
Sir William Davenant finished his poem
of "Gondibert' during his confinement
by the rebels in Carisbrooke Castle.
De Foe, when imprisoned in Newgate
for political pamphlet. began his Re-
riep, periodical which was extended to
nine thick volumes in quarto, and is sup
posed to have served as a model for the
celebrated papers of Steele. De Foe also
composed his "Jure Divino' in prison.
Wicquefort's curious work on "Ambas-
sodors'' is dated from his prison, where he
had been confined for state affairs. He
also composed, while there, several his
torical works.
1t isn't as much the fashion nowadays to
throw eminent scholars into prison as il
was in former centuries, but still there is
ample evidence that the cell is not inimical
to brain-work. Sing Sing or Joliet may
produce the seasons best seller yet.