Product Description

For Billy Hayes, 1970 was a horrifying year. It was the year when he tried to smuggle 4lbs of hashish from Istanbul back to his home in America. It was the year when he was arrested at Istanbul airport, tried, and sentenced to 30 in a Turkish jail. For five years he suffered the filth, brutality and degradation of imprisonment in an environment of hellish squalor, while his family fought in vain to secure his release. Finally in desperation, he made a daring escape bid and incredibly the bid succeeded. This is the astounding true story, told in Billy Hayes's own words, of those five years of living hell and of the harrowing ordeal of his time on the run. Vivid and realistic without being morbid, it is a classic story of survival and human endurance, told with humour, intelligence and total honesty.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #248696 in Books
• Published on: 1987-03-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 336 pages

About the Author
Billy Hayes was born in New York City. He went to Marquette University, dropped out before graduation and the following years are recounted in this book. William Hoffer is co-author of CAUGHT IN THE ACT and is Director of the American Society of Journalists and Authors.

Customer Reviews

Gripping, amazing, can't put it down!
If you have seen the film and are thinking of reading the book, then go for it. It won't spoil the film for you. The book is slightly different, more powerful than the book in some ways and the ending is different.
If you have not yet seen the film and are about to read the book STOP right now. Watch the film first! Because if you dont you may not like the film as much and that would be a shame!
This amazing story tells the 4 years of Hell Billy Hayes had to endure for trying to smuggle marijuana from Turkey to the USA. The prison of Ankara is the worst place on earth for Billy and his inmates. and when you think it's tough, it gets tougher.
Great story, great reading, a must read if you enjoy gripping true life stories!

One of the best books I've read
This is one of the most harrowing stories I've read. Billy Hayes was made a subject of by the Turkish Government. Although you know he escapes as it's written on the back of the book you're still rooting for him to succeed and get away from the torture and suffering he endured over 5 years. The conditions in which he had to live were atrocious.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes to read real life stories.

Good read, well written
I saw the film and then read the book - the book does a much better job at really expressing Billy's feelings and the real mental pain he went through. Don't expect the Hollywood ending in the book, even allowing for poetic licence. A good read, but left me a little disappointed having seen the film first, but glad to have read it nevertheless.