Caitlin Davies, Carl Cattermole, Erika Flowers

Ever since the Victorian era, many rebellious women have been locked up & often forgotten about. Many of these ended up at Holloway, the self-proclaimed 'terror to evil-doers' which, until its closure in 2016, was western Europe's largest women's prison.

Author & Historian Caitlin Davies tells their stories & shows how women have been treated in our justice system over more than a century, what crimes - real or imagined - they committed, who found them guilty and why. Bad Girls, which was longlisted for the 2019 Orwell Prize is a story of victimization and resistance; of oppression and bravery, a fascinating look at how disobedient and defiant women changed not only the prison service, but the course of history. Caitlin is joined by Carl Cattermole and Erika Flowers.

Carl is a young ex-inmate and legal reform campaigner. He spent time in five different UK prisons and, sharing cells with international gangsters, drug addicts, psychopaths and sex offenders, he formulated his idea for a book to help inmates cope with the unique challenges of prison life. 'Prison, a Survival guide' is emotional and funny but a truly practical resource for prisoners, their families, legal professionals, tax payers and clueless politicians alike. Will Self called it "Essential reading". Priti Patel called it "A mockery of our criminal justice system" come and make up your own mind.

At this event you will also see the work of Erika Flowers, a visual artist who documented her prison sentence at HMP Holloway up to and including the closure of the historic site. Her work offers an insight through her eyes into a world that few ever get to see or experience, not a glorification, but an honest personal experience. This event is a benefit to buy books for prisoners.

All ticket sales will be used to buy books through Haven Distribution and Books Beyond Bars.