Overview

In this first memoir about life in the Missouri State Penitentiary by a worker who was neither a prisoner nor a guard, Larry E Neal reveals a portrait of prison life very different from common conceptions. As a maintenance worker, Neal led prisoner work crews, and his stories show that life inside the prison walls could be surprisingly light-hearted, with prisoners and staff playing pranks on each other and crawling through dark tunnels together. In addition to a rare insider's view into prison humour, this book also gives readers a window into the rhythms of daily life inside and the shared humanity of everyone behind the walls.

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9781612481104

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These stories about life in the Missouri State Penitentiary are funny, insightful, and thought-provoking. Larry E. Neal describes himself as a hillbilly ; if so, he's a smart, very observant hillbilly, with a great sense of humor. Read this book; you will never think about prison life in the same way again. --Dr. Gary Kremer, Executive Director, State Historical Society of Missouri This book is about prison life, but not in just any prison. This prison was once called the bloodiest forty-seven acres in America. Who knew such a notorious prison could be so funny? Unguarded Moments shows readers a view of working behind prison walls that most of us (thankfully) never see. From prison politics to pranks to inmate escapades, these stories from a man who worked in the prison plumbing shop give us a hilarious glimpse of the pen, and the understanding that, felons or not, people are just folks. -- Jason Offutt, author of Haunted Missouri and What Lurks Beyond From outrageous pranks staff and inmates pulled on each other to a pancake restaurant two entrepreneurial cell mates launched inside a housing unit, Neal's stories show an unseen side of life in the old prison. -- Inside Columbia, Book Brag

"These stories about life in the Missouri State Penitentiary are funny, insightful, and thought-provoking. Larry E. Neal describes himself as a ""hillbilly""; if so, he's a smart, very observant hillbilly, with a great sense of humor. Read this book; you will never think about prison life in the same way again. --Dr. Gary Kremer, Executive Director, State Historical Society of Missouri This book is about prison life, but not in just any prison. This prison was once called the ""bloodiest forty-seven acres in America."" Who knew such a notorious prison could be so funny? Unguarded Moments shows readers a view of working behind prison walls that most of us (thankfully) never see. From prison politics to pranks to inmate escapades, these stories from a man who worked in the prison plumbing shop give us a hilarious glimpse of the pen, and the understanding that, felons or not, people are just folks. -- Jason Offutt, author of Haunted Missouri and What Lurks Beyond ""From outrageous pranks staff and inmates pulled on each other to a pancake restaurant two entrepreneurial cell mates launched inside a housing unit, Neal's stories show an unseen side of life in the old prison."" -- Inside Columbia, Book Brag"

Author Information

Larry E. Neal worked at the Missouri State Penitentiary from 1984 through its close in 2004. He began as a labor supervisor and ended his career as the chief engineer at the Jefferson City Correctional Center. He retired in 2010 and now lives with his wife in Columbia, MO. He has four daughters and seven grandchildren. Anita Neal Harrison is an award-winning magazine journalist with hundreds of stories published ranging from rocket science research to Major League baseball. She lives in rural mid-Missouri with her husband and two children. She is the managing editor of Inside Columbias Prime magazine and is a freelance writer and editor.

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