James and John

A BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week

‘Carefully observed, rich in detail, imaginative, compassionate and angry. A raw, unexpected portrait of Britain’s grandeur, wealth, energy, cruelty and hypocrisy in the age of liberalism’ — RORY STEWART

'A shocking story of prejudice and injustice, told in meticulous detail' — KEIR STARMER

Newgate Prison, 1835. James Pratt and John Smith were both convicted of homosexuality – ‘an unnatural offence’. Both would be hanged at the gallows. And yet, the 1830s was a time of great reform, when capital punishment was in decline. Of the jailed men alongside them, why were James and John alone not spared?

Labour MP and bestselling author Chris Bryant delves deep into the public archives, scouring poor law records, workhouse registers, prisoner calendars and private correspondence to recreate the lives of two men whose names are known to history – but whose story has been lost, until now.

‘An eye-opening portrait of Victorian injustice and hypocrisy’ — The Times

‘With its courtroom denouement and Dickensian setting, TV commissioners should take note’ — New Statesman

‘An intricately detailed portrait of Regency England, roving from Newgate and the Old Bailey to servants’ quarters’ — Financial Times