The Prisoner's Wife - by Asha Bandele (Paperback)

About the Book

With this achingly intimate work, asha bandele has won the admiration of such trailblazing luminaries as Nikki Giovanni, Angela Davis, and Junot Diaz. A lyrical masterpiece of unfiltered emotion and insight, "The Prisoner's Wife" is one of the most resonant and wholly beautiful memoirs to come along in years about how a talented college student falls in love with a man serving 25-to-life for murder.

Book Synopsis

The Prisoner's Wife is a beautiful story about love that overcomes every obstacle and thrives against all odds.

"A powerful and provocative book--everyone should read it." --Angela Y. Davis

"Romantic but realistic...told with a directness and honesty." --Booklist, starred review

"Mesmerizing and disconcerting, offering insights into why caged birds sing."--Kirkus Reviews

As a favor for a friend, a bright and talented young woman volunteered to read her poetry to a group of prisoners during a Black History Month program. It was an encounter that would alter her life forever, because it was there, in the prison, that she would meet Rashid, the man who was to become her friend, her confidant, her husband, her lover, her soul mate. At the time, Rashid was serving a sentence of twenty years to life for his part in a murder. The Prisoner's Wife is a testimony, for wives and mothers, friends and families. It's a tribute to anyone who has ever chosen, against the odds, to love.

From the Back Cover

As a favor for a friend, a bright and talented young woman volunteered to read her poetry to a group of prisoners during a Black History Month program. It was an encounter that would alter her life forever, because it was there, in the prison, that she would meet Rashid, the man who was to become her friend, her confidant, her husband, her lover, her soul mate. At the time, Rashid was serving a sentence of twenty years to life for his part in a murder. THE PRISONER'S WIFE is a testimony, for wives and mothers, friends and families. It's a tribute to anyone who has ever chosen, against the odds, to love.

Review Quotes

Booklist (starred review) asha bandele's writing soars with emotion. And the reader's emotions soar as well, not because of a shared experience but because her highly polished and skillful writing makes one feel her pain and joy. This is a romantic but realistic story, told with a directness and honesty that makes us know that however impossible the problems asha and Rashid face, we can question neither her motives nor sanity.

Nikki Giovanni It is not easy to trust your heart, but here is a love story. The Prisoner's Wife takes us through not the dungeon of emotions, but the sunshine of hope. If we can continue to find a reason to care, we can all be saved. This book needs to be read by anyone who has...paid a price for love.

Angela Y. Davis A powerful and provocative book -- everyone should read it.

About the Author

Asha Bandele served as features editor and writer for Essence magazine, and a Revson Fellow at Columbia University. She is the author of the memoir The Prisoner's Wife and a collection of poetry. She lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her daughter.