Russian Prisons St. Peter and St. Paul; the Schlüsselburg; the Ostrog at Omsk; the story of Siberian exile; Tiumen, Tomsk, Saghalien

"Russian Prisons" by Arthur Griffiths is a late 19th-century exposé of the severe and merciless treatment of prisoners in Russia, with a sharp focus on political opponents and the dreaded Siberian exile system. The book illuminates the historical backdrop of these prisons, pointing to the autocratic rule that limited freedom in Russia for so long. It starts by pulling back the curtain on the gloomy past of these jails, where harsh punishments came down on both everyday criminals and those who stood against the government. Through vivid descriptions of prisons like St. Peter and St. Paul, and first-hand accounts of the incredible suffering of revolutionaries—including women and young students banished or put to death for their beliefs—the author paints a disturbing picture. The story includes the testimony of a woman who survived cruel treatment behind bars, alongside accounts of floggings and unbelievably awful living conditions, showing just how much these prisoners sacrificed for freedom.