I'll Fly Away: Further Testimonies from the Women of York Prison

“Powerful . . . In I’ll Fly Away, the women have penned well-drawn evocative pieces about their experiences . . . . Healing is happening through writing.”—Lisa Ko, author of The Leavers

The #1 New York Times bestselling author offers an inspiring new collection of writings from the members of his acclaimed program in Connecticut’s York Correctional Facility

In 2003 Wally Lamb, published Couldn’t Keep It to Myself, a collection of essays by the students in his writing workshop at the maximum-security York Correctional Institution, Connecticut’s only prison for women. The New York Times described the book as “Gut-tearing tales . . . the unvarnished truth.”

Now Lamb returns with I’ll Fly Away, a new volume of intimate, searching pieces from the York workshop. Here, 20 women—18 inmates and two of Lamb’s cofacilitators—share the experiences that shaped them from childhood and that haunt and inspire them to this day. These portraits, vignettes, and stories depict with soul-baring honesty how and why women land in prison—and what happens once they get there. The stories are as varied as the individuals who wrote them, but each testifies to the same core truth: the universal value of knowing oneself and changing one’s life through the power of the written word.

In 2003 Wally Lamb—the author of two of the most beloved novels of our time, She's Come Undone and I Know This Much Is True—published Couldn't Keep It to Myself, a collection of essays by the students in his writing workshop at the maximum-security York Correctional Institution, Connecticut's only prison for women. Writing, Lamb discovered, was a way for these women to confront painful memories, face their fears and their failures, and begin to imagine better lives. The New York Times described the book as "Gut-tearing tales . . . the unvarnished truth." The Los Angeles Times said of it, "Lying next to and rising out of despair, hope permeates this book."

Now Lamb returns with I'll Fly Away, a new volume of intimate, searching pieces from the York workshop. Here, twenty women—eighteen inmates and two of Lamb's cofacilitators—share the experiences that shaped them from childhood and that haunt and inspire them to this day. These portraits, vignettes, and stories depict with soul-baring honesty how and why women land in prison—and what happens once they get there. The stories are as varied as the individuals who wrote them, but each testifies to the same core truth: the universal value of knowing oneself and changing one's life through the power of the written word.

“Accomplished . . . These works radiate what Lamb saw as the program’s critical mission: to give the women wings . . . . None are self-pitying, but none shy away from speaking directly to the gross cruelties so often inflicted on their early years or young marriages. Each story, no matter how grim or gritty, shows polish.” - Kirkus Reviews

“Powerful . . . In I’ll Fly Away, the women have penned well-drawn evocative pieces about their experiences. . . . Healing is happening through writing.” - Lisa Ko, author of The Leavers

“Inspiring and raw . . . The 20 women whose work is featured here . . . show that writing is not just a way of capturing their most private thoughts and gripping emotions . . . but also a powerful tool to foster hope and healing. They write from the heart…each vignette is more compelling than the one before it.” - Library Journal

“In 20 essays, contributors recall childhood suffering, abusive relationship, and the circumstances that led them to be imprisoned . . . Lamb . . . continues to offer readers an intimate look at women struggling to maintain their humanity.” - Booklist

“The book challenges stereotypes and offers a world of information about how women end up in prison . . . . It’s a certainty that I'll Fly Away will be . . . required reading in middle schools and high schools and for sociology and psychology majors all over the country.” - San Antonio Express-News