The Don

The Story of Toronto's Infamous Jail

The Don
Lorna Poplak
RRP:
NZ$ 46.99
Our Price:
NZ$ 37.59
Paperback
h229 x 152mm - 272pg
11 Mar 2021 CAN
International import eta 7-19 days
9781459745964
Out Of Stock
Currently no stock in-store, stock is sourced to your order
An in-depth exploration of the Don Jail from its inception through jailbreaks and overcrowding to its eventual shuttering and rebirth. Conceived as a "palace for prisoners," the Don Jail never lived up to its promise. Although based on progressive nineteenth-century penal reform and architectural principles, the institution quickly deteriorated into a place of infamy where both inmates and staff were in constant danger of violence and death. Its mid-twentieth-century replacement, the New Don, soon became equally tainted. Along with investigating the origins and evolution of Toronto' s infamous jail, The Don presents a kaleidoscope of memorable characters - inmates, guards, governors, murderous gangs, meddlesome politicians, harried architects, and even a pair of star-crossed lovers whose doomed romance unfolded in the shadow of the gallows. This is the story of the Don' s tumultuous descent from palace to hellhole, its shuttering and lapse into decay, and its astonishing modern-day metamorphosis.
The Don is an impeccably researched, detailed account of the history of Toronto' s infamous jail and its inhabitants - some of whom orchestrated the most famous escapes in Canadian history. Lorna Poplak has given us an immensely readable, engaging and entertaining look at a significant piece of Toronto' s past. The book comes alive as it describes the good intentions that surrounded the building of the jail, such as the rehabilitation and redemption of the inmates, through to, and including, a candid description of the reality of its often inhumane, fetid and over-crowded conditions. This is a must read for those interested in Toronto' s criminal justice history. * Sandra Kingston, former crown attorney * The Don is a breezily written book recommended for anyone interested in Toronto history, penology or criminology and a thoroughly well researched account of a jail which, in various states of repair and disrepair, housed tens of thousands of criminals and ne' er-do-wells in the Toronto area during its more than 150 years of existence. A must read for all true crime buffs! * James Dubro, author of Mob Rule and Dragons of Crime * Lorna Poplak tells three stories in The Don: the history of Toronto' s most famous/infamous prison; the evolving theories of incarceration and punishment through the jail' s century-and-a-half life; and the shifting shape of the building and surrounding city. All well-told stories, populated by the extraordinary characters of jailors and jailed, hangmen and hanged, all confined within the long, grim history of the Don. A great read. * Joe Berridge, author of Perfect City * This book documents the history of the Don, but also the history of the city of Toronto and thinking around incarceration. An informative read. * Jennifer Hollett, Executive Director, The Walrus * Lorna Poplak has written a fascinating history about Toronto' s most notorious jail. The Don is recommended reading for anyone interested in true-crime or the dark-side of Toronto history. * Nate Hendley, author of The Boy on the Bicycle: A Forgotten Case of Wrongful Conviction in Toronto * Canadian history buffs will savor the arcane criminal lore gathered here. * Publishers Weekly * Poplack is right to dwell on the many indictments of jail conditions throughout this book. * Briarpatch *
Lorna Poplak is a writer, editor, and researcher, with a fascination for the stories behind the facts of Canadian history. She lives in Toronto.
Status: No local stock, title imported to order
ISBN-13: 9781459745964
Published: 11 Mar 2021
Published In: Canada
Imprint: Dundurn Group
Publisher: Dundurn Group
Format: Paperback
Height: 229mm
Width: 152mm
Spine: 25mm
Weight: 447g
Pages: 272

In stock - for items in stock we aim to dispatch the next business day. For delivery in NZ allow 2-5 business days, with rural taking a wee bit longer.

Locally sourced in NZ - stock comes from a NZ supplier with an approximate delivery of 7-15 business days.

International Imports - stock is imported into NZ, depending on air or sea shipping option from the international supplier stock can take 10-30 working days to arrive into NZ. 

Pre-order Titles - delivery will vary depending on where the title is published, if local stock is available in NZ then 5-7 business days, for international imports it can be 10-30 business days. In all cases we will access the quickest supply option.

Delivery Packaging - we ship all items in cardboard sleeves or by box with either packing paper or corn starch chips. (We avoid using plastics bubble bags)

Tracking - Orders are delivered by track and trace courier and are fully insured, tracking information will be sent by email once dispatched.

View our full Order & Delivery information