From Oscar Wilde to John McVicar, Jimmy Boyle to Jeffrey Archer and Noel 'Razor' Smith, Unlocking The Prison Muse: The inspirations and effects of prisoners' writing in Britainexamines the history, the inspirations and the effects of prisoners' writing in Britain - on rehabilitation, on wider society, on penal policy and on victims.

A collection of writings by prisoners and other people connected with prisons, from the United Kingdom and beyond, "Prison Writing" is now published annually in book form and continues to promote creative writing among prisoners in the UK and beyond. From 2001, there are prizes for the four best contributions as judged by a panel of experts - in addition to the nominal fees paid to all contributors. Everyone whose work is published receives two complimentary copies of the edition of "Prison Writing" in which it appears. Many prisoners first saw their work in print in "Prison Writing." Some went on to be published in national newspapers and magazines and to attract the interest of book publishers.Interviews continue to be a feature of "Prison Writing." Interviewees have included Eddie Bunker ('"Prison Writing" is doing a real good job. Keep up the good work!'), Martin Amis ('Writing depends on the only thing these guys have plenty of: solitude'), Howard Marks, Hugh Collins and Razor Smith.