Luther Benson
Luther Benson’s 'Fifteen Years in Hell: An Autobiography' is a terrifying first-person narrative of the author’s experiences in the American jail system in the late 19th century. Benson’s story describes his unfair conviction for a crime he did not commit and the fifteen years of torture he spent in several prisons throughout that time. Benson describes in graphic detail the cruel circumstances, physical mistreatment, and mental anguish he and the other prisoners endured. Benson provides insights into the human spirit’s resiliency in the face of misfortune by maintaining his resolve and determination to survive in the face of unfathomable tragedy. The book is a monument to the miseries of imprisonment and the never-ending search for justice and atonement, as the title suggests. Benson’s autobiography offers a moving meditation on the long-lasting impact of trauma and tenacity while shedding light on the shortcomings and injustices present in the prison system of his day.
