It is an excellent prison novel whose validity still shakes us half a century after its publication. Its own author, who was interviewed after the success of this work, described it as " terrific". His words; which appeared in the prologue of its first edition, are his best letter of introduction. " You already know it; reader, whose sensitive feelings I respect deeply: if you do not want to hear out of proportion words or cope in all its tragical crudeness with all those human beings who mix themselves in an abominable world, do not turn over the page. this book is prison.
