A Question of Innocence: On Writing About Real and Imagined Lives In and Outside of Prison

The article explores the parallel lives of two writers, Harriet Clark and John J.

Lennon, who both have personal connections to prison through their mothers.

Harriet Clark is the author of The Hill, a novel about a girl named Suzanna who grows up visiting her imprisoned mother, Judith Clark.

Harriet’s mother was sentenced to 75 years to life for her role as a getaway driver in the 1981 Brinks armored truck heist, which resulted in the deaths of a Brinks guard and two police officers.

John J.

Lennon, a journalist and writer, served 25 years in prison and wrote an essay titled Happy Mother’s Day, from Prison for Esquire, reflecting on his mother’s struggles and his own experiences.

Both writers grapple with themes of abandonment, guilt, and the impact of prison on families.