You may not have known this, but some of the greatest works in literature have been produced behind bars. Perhaps it had something to do with having e

You may not have known this, but some of the greatest works in literature have been produced behind bars. Perhaps it had something to do with having extra alone time with their thoughts, which led to profound insights that eventually made their way on paper. Many of these proved to stand the test of time due to their undeniable mark on mankind. So why don’t you keep on reading to learn more about five of the most amazing literary works of all time that just so happened to be written in prison. 1. On the Consolations of Philosophy by Boethius In AD 523, Ancicius Manilius Boethius, an Italian philosopher and statesman was imprisoned and sentenced to death under the false accusation of betraying the empire. During the year that led to his trial, Boethius felt compelled to write what would later be considered as “the last great Western work of the Classical Period.” Written as a conversation between himself and a female personification of philosophy named Lady Philosophy, the duo discusses various topics including free will, determinism, and the virtue of happiness which the latter states can only come from within. 2. Letters from Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King Jr. Even when serving a nine-day sentencing in 1963 for organizing an anti-racial segregation protest in Alabama, Martin Luther King Jr. stuck to his values despite the setback. There, in response to a group of clergymen who published a paper that renounced his methods of seeking justice, King Jr. poured out his heart, expressing his deepest feelings on behalf of not only himself, but his fellow African-Americans as well. His disdain for what his people went through can be summed up in this powerful quote “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” 3. The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan Having been translated into over 200 languages, there’s no denying that The Pilgrim’s Progress is one of the most significant works of theological fiction in English literature. During a 12-year sentencing for refusing to give up preaching following the restoration of the monarch, John Bunyan took on writing as a way to exercise his faith, eventually creating the previously mentioned masterpiece which outlines the journey of a Christian to a paradise called Celestial City, enduring numerous trials and tribulations in the process. Although this wasn’t his only literary piece, it's by far the best one. 4. Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus by Ludwig Wittgenstein While serving as a soldier during World War I, Ludgwig Wittgenstein, an Austo-Hungarian philosopher, was captured by the Allied Forces and taken in as their prisoner of war. During this time, he composed his only philosophical work titled the “Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus” in which he outlines the relationship between language and reality, as well as his aim of defining the limits of science. Witttgentstein was freed nine months later, finally completing his work during a military leave in the summer of 1918. 5. The Travels of Marco Polo by Rustichello of Pisa Following a 24-year long exploration of the Far East, the Venetian merchant Marco Polo finally returned home, only to be captured by the army of the enemy state Genoa after joining the war effort. To pass the time, Polo entertained his fellow inmates with stories of his lengthy travels. Instead of writing down the stories himself, it was his cellmate, Italian romance writer Rustichello da Pisa, who put it all on paper and well, the rest is history. The book was a hit all across the European continent, and became the source of inspiration for future explorers.

Amazing Literary Works Written in Prison

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