Читать книгу Prison Break - True Stories of the World's Greatest Escapes - Paul Buck - Страница 4

On a broad level, my thanks extend to all those books, newspapers, magazines and website resources that I have used for research, not only in recent times but over the years. Many are found in my own library, but I have also turned to the London Borough of Bexley’s libraries, and thank all those employed there – particularly in Sidcup and Central Library – for their efforts, including their search for books which were catalogued but seemed to have gone walkabout or escaped.

I would also like to acknowledge here three different friendships dating back to the 1970s: Paul Walton, the sociologist, who in those heady days turned me onto media studies, the issue of deviancy, and Psychological Survival, the research work from Durham Prison that was plainly helpful to Walter Probyn, John McVicar and others; Roger Jean Ségalat, in Lausanne, who involved me in factual crime writing; and, in Paris, Jean-Patrick Manchette, with whom I shared hours of dialogue and correspondence on crime and crime writing.

Back further, perhaps I should note my class year at a Catholic grammar school in the late fifties and early sixties for opening my eyes to criminal matters and helping to create my own inclinations, way before I discovered ideas through Colin Wilson, Albert Camus and Georges Bataille, to name but a few barbed wires.

To return to this particular book: my thanks to Cass Pennant, the publisher, who responded directly to my proposition; to Paul Woods, who instigated my involvement, helped pursue contacts, and indeed provided an interview that gives fresh information, as well as making editorial contributions; to others, some of whom are named in the text but who may not want to be named here – though I think Patsy Fleming, Dennis Woods, Terry Dunford, Beryl Smith and Terry Smith will not mind being credited for their help. And thanks also to Colin Lane for coming to the rescue over a problematic tape.

And finally to my wife, Catherine, who, as always, helped with my research and also diligently read and contributed to all aspects of what I’ve written. To her, my deep gratitude and love. This book is dedicated to her.