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Content snapshot
Flag an inaccuracy →What's in this book, at a glance — five things readers want to know before they start.
Violence
A lot
Prison violence including riots, beatings, and murder depicted with stark realism
Language
Some
Coarse language consistent with prison settings
Sexual Content
A lot
Explicit homosexual sex scenes; prison sexuality portrayed frankly
Substance Use
A lot
Heroin addiction is central to the protagonist's character; withdrawal, cravings, and drug culture depicted throughout
Emotional Intensity
A lot
Themes of fraternal hatred, incarceration, addiction, and spiritual transformation; emotionally intense throughout
What this book is about
Ezekiel Farragut, a middle-aged university professor and drug addict, enters Falconer Prison after killing his brother. Inside, he forms an intense homosexual love affair, witnesses the brutality of prison life, and struggles with his heroin addiction. Cheever's spare, luminous prose transforms this darkest of settings into a story about grace and human resilience. Controversial on publication for its frank depictions of prison sex and violence, it's now considered one of his masterworks.
Notes for sensitive readers
Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.
Graphic prison violence
Explicit sexual content
Heroin addiction depicted in detail
Murder of a sibling as backstory
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