Neither myth nor monolith: the bagne in fin-de-siecle France

Incarceration in the bagnes or French overseas penal colonies in Guyana or New Caledonia was considered the most serious punishment after the death penalty because of unhealthy living conditions and hard labor. However, the bagnes were often depicted in literature as attractive destinations for rest...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of European studies 1998-09, Vol.28 (3), p.245-266
Main Author: Toth, Stephen A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
19th century
Colonies & territories
Correctional institutions
Criminals
Human rights
Imprisonment
Literature
Morality
Penal colonies
Prisons
Torture
Citations: Items that cite this one
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Summary:Incarceration in the bagnes or French overseas penal colonies in Guyana or New Caledonia was considered the most serious punishment after the death penalty because of unhealthy living conditions and hard labor. However, the bagnes were often depicted in literature as attractive destinations for rest and relaxation. This is because of criminals' perceptions that the penitentiaries are not strict enough in supervising training and rehabilitation in contrast with ordinary prisons in France.
ISSN:0047-2441
1740-2379
DOI:10.1177/004724419802800303