Tunnel to Canto Grande: The Story of the Most Daring Prison Escape in Latin American History
by Claribel Alegría
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Description
Tunnel to Canto Grande tells the dramatic story of how the Peruvian Tupac Amuru Revolutionary Movement (MRTA) tunneled into an "escape-proof" penitentiary, Canto Grande, to free forty-eight political prisoners on July 9, 1990. The prisoners escaped through the tunnel without a single casualty and eluded the authorities. Because of their world-wide reputation as writers of testimony, the authors, Alegría and Flakoll, were invited by MRTA leaders to write the exclusive story of the escape. show more At no small risk to their own safety, they spent a week in the most hunted for safe house in Lima, Peru, interviewing the participants in the project and the escapees. The resulting narrative is filled with suspense, drama, and humor. show lessTags
Member Reviews
Multiple voices that told a singular story. Of course, this is driven by the event of the prison escape, not a 'history' of the MRTA as such (in the way that Girls to the Front is a history of the Riot Grrrl movement). Lately, I think about prisons and what I learn about them in terms of my 'outsideness' and how that influences my own judgments about what is 'right' or 'wrong' as conditions of imprisonment. I just watched Hunger, and wondered all the way through: why would a hunger strike influence the administration to change anything? If prison staff would enforce unfair conditions, why would they care if the prisoners try to starve themselves?
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Author Information
45+ Works 502 Members
Clara Isabel Alegría Vides was born in Esteli, Nicaragua on May 12, 1924. Her family moved to El Salvador when she was a baby. She received a bachelor's degree in philosophy and letters at George Washington University in 1948. That was also the year her first book of poetry, Anillo de Silencio (Ring of Silence), was published. In 1947, she show more married American journalist and diplomat Darwin J. Flakoll. Alegría's collections of poetry included Flowers from the Volcano and Saudade/Sorrow. She also wrote children's books. She and Flakoll wrote several books together including Tunnel to Canto Grande and Death of Somoza. She died on January 25, 2018 at the age of 93. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Classifications
- Genres
- Nonfiction, History, Politics and Government
- DDC/MDS
- 365.641 — Society, government, & culture Social problems and social services Punishment Inmates Security, discipline, daily routine, release and discharge Security
- LCC
- HV9625 .C362 .C36313 — Social sciences Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminal justice administration Penology. Prisons. Corrections By region or country
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 7
- Popularity
- 2,747,896
- Reviews
- 1
- Rating
- (3.50)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper
- ISBNs
- 1
