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 price-clipped, gift inscription to front free endpaper.

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 center 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.