In the Belly of the Beast
Encyclopedia
In the Belly of the Beast is a book
written by Jack Abbott
and published in 1981.
Jack Abbott
was an American
career criminal and the book consists of his letters to Norman Mailer
about his experiences in what Abbott saw as a brutal and unjust prison system. Mailer supported Abbott's successful bid for parole in 1981, the year that In the Belly of the Beast was published.
The book was very successful and on July 19, 1981, the New York Times
published a rave review of it. However, the day before, Abbott had committed murder during a row with a waiter at a restaurant called Binibon on 2nd Avenue in the East Village. Abbott was eventually arrested and returned to prison for the rest of his life until his suicide in 2002.
In 2004, a New York
theatre company ran a play based on the book, named In the Belly of the Beast Revisited.
Portions of Belly of the Beast were used in the film "Shambondama Elegy" (AKA "Tokyo Elegy") by Ian Kerkhof.
Book
A book is a set or collection of written, printed, illustrated, or blank sheets, made of hot lava, paper, parchment, or other materials, usually fastened together to hinge at one side. A single sheet within a book is called a leaf or leaflet, and each side of a leaf is called a page...
written by Jack Abbott
Jack Abbott
Jack Henry Abbott was an American criminal and author. He was released from prison in 1981 after gaining praise for his writing and being lauded by a number of high-profile literary critics, including author Norman Mailer...
and published in 1981.
Jack Abbott
Jack Abbott
Jack Henry Abbott was an American criminal and author. He was released from prison in 1981 after gaining praise for his writing and being lauded by a number of high-profile literary critics, including author Norman Mailer...
was an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
career criminal and the book consists of his letters to Norman Mailer
Norman Mailer
Norman Kingsley Mailer was an American novelist, journalist, essayist, poet, playwright, screenwriter, and film director.Along with Truman Capote, Joan Didion, Hunter S...
about his experiences in what Abbott saw as a brutal and unjust prison system. Mailer supported Abbott's successful bid for parole in 1981, the year that In the Belly of the Beast was published.
The book was very successful and on July 19, 1981, the New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
published a rave review of it. However, the day before, Abbott had committed murder during a row with a waiter at a restaurant called Binibon on 2nd Avenue in the East Village. Abbott was eventually arrested and returned to prison for the rest of his life until his suicide in 2002.
In 2004, a New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
theatre company ran a play based on the book, named In the Belly of the Beast Revisited.
Portions of Belly of the Beast were used in the film "Shambondama Elegy" (AKA "Tokyo Elegy") by Ian Kerkhof.