“If Duncan’s life story were a movie, there would be many points where it would reach a crescendo of vindication . . . The Jailhouse Lawyer will stagger readers at both Duncan’s resilience and the deep flaws of the legal system . . . The inmates he helps along the way showcase that, though Duncan’s story may be remarkable, it is sadly not unique. Readers will come away changed—angry, heartened, and galvanized.” —Booklist (starred review)
“Duncan’s well-told story is full of fraught moments . . . An eye-opening look at prison life from the point of view of a true warrior for justice.” —Kirkus
“The book amounts to an intimate history lesson on Louisiana’s treatment of its imprisoned over decades, and the pivotal laws and court decisions that Duncan and others scrambled to fight or exploit from behind prison walls.” —Times Picayune
“Where most prison memoirs are haunted by prison, this is a book that troubles you with what it means to relentlessly pursue freedom. It’s not simply that Duncan is to be respected, it’s that he is a singular example of what it means to have an indomitable will. Reading this book is a revelation.” —Dwayne Betts
“If I created a fictional character like Calvin Duncan, no one would believe him and the story wouldn’t work. Fiction can be many things, but it has to be believable. Duncan’s story is so incredible it strains belief. It is so heartwarming and hopeful that it will stay with you for a long time.” —John Grisham
“The legal system tried to destroy Calvin Duncan. But rather than submit, he used the law to fight back, both for himself and for hundreds of other incarcerated men. This brilliantly told story—at once maddening and miraculous—is among the most powerful indictments of our criminal justice system I’ve ever read.” —James Forman, Jr.
“Calvin Duncan is surely the most extraordinary jailhouse lawyer of our time. The Jailhouse Lawyer offers an intimate portrayal of Duncan’s decades-long journey for justice, fighting for thousands of indigent prisoners against a merciless legal system. This remarkable debut is both a powerful account of Duncan’s struggle and a clarion call to end the brutal legacy of mass incarceration. Duncan’s relentless determination to champion those forgotten by justice will ignite a fire within you that will burn long after you’ve finished the book.” —Sister Helen Prejean, author of Dead Man Walking
“The truth is a powerful force, but without advocates, it dies. And Calvin Duncan is an advocate for the truth unlike any you’ve ever encountered—not simply on his own behalf but for hundreds of others caught up in the unending disaster of our American gulag. The book he and Sophie Cull have written with such precision and vividness and heart is a testament to that advocacy which no judge or court can deny. Read it and weep. Books that change the way you see the world are few and far between. The Jailhouse Lawyer is one of them.” —Adam Haslett, author of Mothers and Sons
“A superbly written, compelling memoir chronicling Calvin Duncan’s remarkable life—an innocent man incarcerated at the infamous Angola State Prison who became a self-taught, brilliant jailhouse lawyer. Although the word ‘hero’ is greatly overused in today’s society, in my mind, Calvin Duncan is a hero in the truest sense of that word. I urge all who are in need of inspiration to please read this riveting account of an indomitable spirit in the face of ongoing stiff resistance.” —Jim McCloskey, coauthor of the #1 New York Times bestseller Framed
“Calvin Duncan’s life story is a testament to a degree of courage, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to justice that few possess. In The Jailhouse Lawyer, he takes us inside the callous legal system that led to his wrongful conviction, and inside the prison where he forged an unbreakable resolve to seek justice not just for himself but for others forgotten by the courts. Through sheer determination, Duncan became a lifeline for countless incarcerated individuals, and deployed the law as his superpower on their behalf. This book is not only an inspiring story of one man’s battle against overwhelming odds; it exemplifies what it means to stand against oppressive forces on behalf of the least powerful among us. Calvin Duncan’s voice is one we cannot afford to ignore.” —Clive Stafford Smith, author of Injustice
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