A Bit of a Stretch cover art

A Bit of a Stretch

The Diaries of a Prisoner

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A Bit of a Stretch

By: Chris Atkins
Narrated by: Chris Atkins
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About this listen

Where can a tin of tuna buy you clean clothes? Which British education system struggles with 50 percent illiteracy? Where do teetotal Muslims attend AA meetings? Where is it easier to get 'spice' than paracetamol? Where does self-harm barely raise an eyebrow?

Welcome to Her Majesty's Prison Service, a creaking and surreal world that has been left to rot for decades in the shadows of polite society. Like most people, documentary-maker Chris Atkins didn't spend much time thinking about prisons. But after becoming embroiled in a dodgy scheme to fund his latest film, he was sent down for five years.

His new home would be HMP Wandsworth, one of the oldest, largest and most dysfunctional prisons in Europe. Horrifying, moving and darkly funny, this is the unvarnished depiction of what he found. With a cast of characters ranging from wily drug dealers to corrupt screws to senior officials bent on endless (and fruitless) reform, this is the reality behind the locked gates. Full of incredible and hilarious stories, A Bit of a Stretch reveals the true scale of our prison crisis and why it is costing us all.

Includes exclusive bonus chapter, available only from Audible.

©2020 Chris Atkins (P)2020 Audible, Ltd Criminal & Forensic Psychology Mental Health Psychology Psychology & Mental Health True Crime Funny Witty Inspiring Thought-Provoking Scary Health

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All stars
Most relevant
I can only thank Chris for writing this book and putting it into an audio format. The book is unbelievably engaging, informative and eye opening whilst incorporating wonderful wit and sensitivity. The audiobook provides the listener with not only a descriptive narrative that places you in Wandsworth with Chris but also gives the listener additional chapters not included in the written format. I have yet to listen to or read anything as inspirational as this. It is definitely a book that I will repeatedly revisit.

A truly inspirational listen.

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I've always wondered how I would cope if I ever went to prison and this book gave me a real insight into what it would be like - the things that would be most difficult might be things that I'd never even considered before. I couldn't put this audiobook down, it was so interesting and engaging.

Although Chris reveals that many aspects of prison life are more shockingly difficult and frustrating than I imagined (particularly the many senseless computer-says-no systems and processes), his story also illustrates how adaptable you can be, even if you are ill-equipped for prison life, and that was reassuring. The book gives an excellent insight into the UK prison system and the detrimental impact of recent political interventions, it also humanises the prisoners and is regularly punctuated by moments that are laugh out loud funny.

I see that some reviews complain about random music in the background, but the use of background music is explained at the start of the book and is not random; it's used to denote "fact box" type notes that were not part of the original diaries and were added later, or to denote the end of a chapter. I agree that it takes a bit of getting used to, and it goes on a bit too long at the end of the chapters, but that's not really a big deal.

I've also seen criticisms of the speed of narration and the editing. It's true that the narration keeps going at a fair clip and I did have to rewind a couple of times, but then I do that with pretty much everything I listen to and I did it no more than usual with this book. I did also notice a couple of mistakes and repetitions, but they were quickly over and did not spoil my overall enjoyment. Both criticisms are, for me, far outweighed by Chris's engaging delivery, which really puts you into the experience in Wandsworth Prison.

Forget the music, story is fascinating and funny

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I'm interested in the experiences of prisoners. This was an enjoyable foray into the heart of Wandsworth. A very grim place by the sound of it - but made enjoyable by the humour injected into the text by the author. I particularly enjoyed the accents.

Sad to see the state of the prison system in the UK and how we treat some of our most vulnerable people. As a white collar criminal the authors experience was atypical - but his observation of the chaos from the inside is still reason enough to recommend this book.

Funny - informative, slightly pretentious

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I savoured every single second of this book. Often funny and sadly more often very sad but non the less I really enjoyed this.
Sad when it ended.

Thoroughly enjoyable.

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The engaging, witty and visceral storytelling allows a fascinating insight in to prison life.

An uncut gem of a read...

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