18 Prisoners: Stories of Escape from China, the World's Largest Prison

Award-winning author: Geschwister-Scholl-Preis 2011 and Peace Prize of the German Book Trade 2012

"Liao Yiwu is perhaps the most versatile chronicler of contemporary China." Der Tagesspiegel

English sample translation available

Prisons serve as mirrors reflecting societal truths by unveiling its darker counterpart. The stories shared by those incarcerated offer distinct, countervailing narratives. Liao Yiwu, in his incarceration, gathered these life stories, piecing together an alternative narrative of China's history. Echoing the endeavors of Alexander Solzhenitsyn, he uncovers the grim realities within what he terms "the world's largest prison." "18 Prisoners" delves into the lives of not just 18 individuals, often incarcerated for their political beliefs, but also narrates 18 tales of escape. Each instance of escape—whether across towering mountains or vast seas—underscores that the human yearning for freedom, inventive spirit, and the indomitable drive to survive transcend political subjugation.

"The power of this author is already present in his tone, who does not shy away from any pain or horror and at the same time develops a sense for situational comedy and a strikingly delicate sensibility." Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung on "Wuhan"