Synopses & Reviews
From one of the greatest legal injustices of our time sprang one of the most unlikelyand unforgettablelove stories. Damien Echols was just eighteen years old when he was condemned to death for a crime he didnt commit. His casethat of the infamous West Memphis Three”gained notoriety after a documentary,
Paradise Lost, exposed the biased nature of the trial and Echols as the precocious, charmingand tragicfigure at its center. Lorri Davis was a landscape architect living in New York City when she surreptitiously wandered into a showing of the film, and she left forever changed. She, too, was from the South, accustomed to being the outsider in a small town. She saw much of herself in Echols, understood how he could easily have been swept up in a witch hunt, and she couldnt get him out of her head. So she wrote him a letterand when it arrived in Echolss penitentiary cell in April 1996, hers were some of the first kind words of support he heard.
Over the course of a remarkable sixteen-year correspondence, Echols and Davis grew to know each other, fall in love, and marryall without ever being able to touch each other freely or be alone together. In Yours for Eternity, their extraordinary letters provide a singular portrait of their marriage, from the first, heady days of discovery to the final, painful months before Echolss release. Through postscripts and footnotes, Echols and Davis describe how they overcame the enormous challenges and heartbreaks throughout the yearspersonal setbacks, legal complications, and much more. Yours for Eternity reveals a relationship unfolding in the most exceptional of circumstances. Powerful and incredibly intimate, it is a modern-day love story for the ages.
Review
andldquo;Wrongfully imprisoned by willfully ignorant cops, prosecutors and judge, Damien Echols draws on all his wits and his unique view of humanity to survive eighteen years on death row. My admiration for him, and the strength of his spirit, increases with every page.andrdquo;andnbsp;andmdash;Sir Peter Jackson, Academy Award-winning director, producer and screenwriter
Review
andldquo;I am in awe of Damien's ability to write so beautifully, with such ease, humor and honestyandmdash;this is inspired storytelling, a wonderful book!andrdquo;andnbsp;andmdash;Fran Walsh, Academy Award-winning screenwriter, composer and producer
Review
andldquo;The life of Damien Echols is a journey similar to that of the metal that becomes a samuraiandrsquo;s sword. Heated and pounded until it becomes hardened, it can hold its edge for centuries. It is incredible that Damien endured and survived one of the most tragic miscarriages of American justice, and emerged such a centered, articulate and extraordinary man and writer. Life After Death proves that he paid dearly for his wisdom.andrdquo;andmdash;Henry Rollins
Review
andldquo;In this searing, finely wrought memoir, Echols recalls his poverty-stricken childhood, the trial of the West Memphis 3, and the harsh realities of life on death row andhellip; The most affecting sections are Echolsandrsquo;s philosophical musings on all he has lost, his thoughts often influenced by Zen Buddhism. In one journal entry that survived the guardsandrsquo; purge, Echols contemplates what he misses the most while in prison. The answer is a heart-wrenching and simple commentary on American prison life: andlsquo;In the end itandrsquo;s not the fruit I miss most... I miss being treated like a human being.andrsquo;andrdquo;andmdash;Publisherandrsquo;s Weekly (starred)
Review
andldquo;Exceptional memoir by the most famous of the West Memphis Three. [B]are facts alone would make for an interesting story. However, Echols is at heart a poet and mystic, and he has written not just a quickie one-off book to capitalize on a lurid news story, but rather a work of art that occasionally bears a resemblance to the work of Jean Genet. A voracious reader all his life, Echols vividly tells his story, from his impoverished childhood in a series of shacks and mobile homes to his emergence after half a lifetime behind bars as a psychically scarred man rediscovering freedom in New York City. The author also effectively displays his intelligence and sensitivity, qualities the Arkansas criminal justice system had no interest in recognizing during Echolsandrsquo; ordeal. Essential reading.andrdquo;andmdash;Kirkus Reviews (starred)
Review
andldquo;This is a stunning piece of work. Such hope while faced with injustice. Damien teaches us how to live.andrdquo;andmdash;Eddie Vedder
Review
andldquo;[Echolsandrsquo;] case garnered worldwide attention, but [his] memoir is about as far away from a publicity-seeking I-was-wronged story as possible. The author opts for a meatier, and certainly more haunting, account of his life behind bars, coupled with flashbacks to his childhood....Echols is a talented writer, and when the book dips into his own spiritual and philosophical beliefs...it achieves the kind of emotional resonance that many similar books lack....A tragic and often disturbing story.andquot;andmdash;Booklist
Review
andquot;Damien Echols suffered a shocking miscarriage of justice. A nightmare few could endure.andnbsp;An innocent man on death row for more than eighteen years, abused by the very system we all fund.andnbsp;His story will appall, fascinate, and render you feeble with tears and laughter.andnbsp;A brilliant memoir to battle with literary giants of the calibre of Jean Genet, Gregory David Roberts, and Dostoevsky.andquot;andmdash;Johnny Depp
Review
andldquo;[T]his is an eloquent, even bitterly lyrical, portrayal of how an innocent man can slip through the cracks of the legal system and struggle to survive. Compelling and deeply moving, in the tradition of Helen Prejeanandrsquo;s Dead Man Walking and Norman Mailerandrsquo;s The Executionerandrsquo;s Song, this memoir will appeal to a wide audience.andrdquo;andmdash;Library Journal (starred)
Review
andldquo;Damien Echols spent eighteen years on death row for murders he did not commit. Somehow, in the depths of his unspeakable nightmare, he found the courage and strength not only to survive, but to grow, to create, to forgive, and to understand.andnbsp;Life After Death is a brilliant, haunting, painful, and uplifting narrative of a hopeless childhood, a wrongful conviction, a brutal incarceration, and the beginning of a new life.andrdquo;andmdash;John Grisham
Review
andldquo;[A] tale of romance, resilience, and the power of the written word.andrdquo;andmdash;Stephanie Palumbo,
O, The Oprah MagazineReview
A New York Times Bestseller A Los Angeles Times Bestseller
A USA Today Bestseller
A Wall Street Journal Bestseller
A Kirkus Reviews and#8220;Best of 2012and#8221; nonfiction selection and#160; and#8220;Damien Echols spent eighteen years on death row for murders he did not commit. Somehow, in the depths of his unspeakable nightmare, he found the courage and strength not only to survive, but to grow, to create, to forgive, and to understand.and#160;Life After Death is a brilliant, haunting, painful, and uplifting narrative of a hopeless childhood, a wrongful conviction, a brutal incarceration, and the beginning of a new life.and#8221; and#8212;John Grisham and#160; and#8220;Wrongfully imprisoned by willfully ignorant cops, prosecutors and judge, Damien Echols draws on all his wits and his unique view of humanity to survive eighteen years on death row. My admiration for him, and the strength of his spirit, increases with every page.and#8221; and#160;and#8212;Sir Peter Jackson, Academy Award-winning director, producer and screenwriter and#160; and#8220;I am in awe of Damien's ability to write so beautifully, with such ease, humor and honestyand#8212;this is inspired storytelling, a wonderful book!and#8221; and#160;and#8212;Fran Walsh, Academy Award-winning screenwriter, composer and producer and#160; and#8220;The life of Damien Echols is a journey similar to that of the metal that becomes a samuraiand#8217;s sword. Heated and pounded until it becomes hardened, it can hold its edge for centuries. It is incredible that Damien endured and survived one of the most tragic miscarriages of American justice, and emerged such a centered, articulate and extraordinary man and writer. Life After Death proves that he paid dearly for his wisdom.and#8221; and#8212;Henry Rollins and#160; and#8220;Exceptional memoir by the most famous of the West Memphis Three. [B]are facts alone would make for an interesting story. However, Echols is at heart a poet and mystic, and he has written not just a quickie one-off book to capitalize on a lurid news story, but rather a work of art that occasionally bears a resemblance to the work of Jean Genet. A voracious reader all his life, Echols vividly tells his story, from his impoverished childhood in a series of shacks and mobile homes to his emergence after half a lifetime behind bars as a psychically scarred man rediscovering freedom in New York City. The author also effectively displays his intelligence and sensitivity, qualities the Arkansas criminal justice system had no interest in recognizing during Echolsand#8217; ordeal. Essential reading.and#8221; and#8212;Kirkus Reviews (starred) and#160; and#8220;This is a stunning piece of work. Such hope while faced with injustice. Damien teaches us how to live.and#8221; and#8212;Eddie Vedder and#160; and#8220;[Echolsand#8217;] case garnered worldwide attention, but [his] memoir is about as far away from a publicity-seeking I-was-wronged story as possible. The author opts for a meatier, and certainly more haunting, account of his life behind bars, coupled with flashbacks to his childhood....Echols is a talented writer, and when the book dips into his own spiritual and philosophical beliefs...it achieves the kind of emotional resonance that many similar books lack....A tragic and often disturbing story." and#8212;Booklist and#160; "Damien Echols suffered a shocking miscarriage of justice. A nightmare few could endure.and#160;An innocent man on death row for more than eighteen years, abused by the very system we all fund.and#160;His story will appall, fascinate, and render you feeble with tears and laughter.and#160;A brilliant memoir to battle with literary giants of the calibre of Jean Genet, Gregory David Roberts, and Dostoevsky." and#8212;Johnny Depp and#160; and#8220;[T]his is an eloquent, even bitterly lyrical, portrayal of how an innocent man can slip through the cracks of the legal system and struggle to survive. Compelling and deeply moving, in the tradition of Helen Prejeanand#8217;s Dead Man Walking and Norman Mailerand#8217;s The Executionerand#8217;s Song, this memoir will appeal to a wide audience.and#8221; and#8212;Library Journal (starred) and#160; and#8220;In this searing, finely wrought memoir, Echols recalls his poverty-stricken childhood, the trial of the West Memphis 3, and the harsh realities of life on death row and#8230; The most affecting sections are Echolsand#8217;s philosophical musings on all he has lost, his thoughts often influenced by Zen Buddhism. In one journal entry that survived the guardsand#8217; purge, Echols contemplates what he misses the most while in prison. The answer is a heart-wrenching and simple commentary on American prison life: and#8216;In the end itand#8217;s not the fruit I miss most... I miss being treated like a human being.and#8217;and#8221; and#8212;Publisherand#8217;s Weekly (starred) and#160; and#8220;[A] tale of romance, resilience, and the power of the written word.and#8221;
and#8212;Stephanie Palumbo, O, The Oprah Magazine
and#160; and#8220;Echols is a writer whose talent is commensurate with the task of telling this story....The man who has emerged from death row at last is not quite a hero, but heand#8217;s something far more interesting: an artistand#8212;and, most definitely, well worth meeting.and#8221; and#8212;Laura Miller, Salon.com
and#160; and#8220;Grippingand#8230;Echols has already lived a remarkable life, one forged in tragedy and all manner of iniquity. That he is able to write so movingly about the many trials he endured speaks volumes about his intellect and character.and#8221; and#8212;Jesse Singal, The Boston Globe
Review
and#8220;[Echols] has written a haunting book, and the story it tells is hardly over. He is living out a sequel that is no less strange and magickal than what he has already been through.and#8221;
and#8212;Janet Maslin,and#160;The New York Times
and#160; "[A] tale of romance, resilience, and the power of the written word."and#160;and#8212;O, the Oprah Magazine
and#160; and#8220;Damien Echols spent eighteen years on death row for murders he did not commit. Somehow, in the depths of his unspeakable nightmare, he found the courage and strength not only to survive, but to grow, to create, to forgive, and to understand.and#160;Life After Death is a brilliant, haunting, painful, and uplifting narrative of a hopeless childhood, a wrongful conviction, a brutal incarceration, and the beginning of a new life.and#8221; and#8212;John Grisham and#160; and#8220;Wrongfully imprisoned by willfully ignorant cops, prosecutors and judge, Damien Echols draws on all his wits and his unique view of humanity to survive eighteen years on death row. My admiration for him, and the strength of his spirit, increases with every page.and#8221; and#160;and#8212;Sir Peter Jackson, Academy Award-winning director, producer and screenwriter and#160; and#8220;I am in awe of Damien's ability to write so beautifully, with such ease, humor and honestyand#8212;this is inspired storytelling, a wonderful book!and#8221; and#160;and#8212;Fran Walsh, Academy Award-winning screenwriter, composer and producer and#160; and#8220;The life of Damien Echols is a journey similar to that of the metal that becomes a samuraiand#8217;s sword. Heated and pounded until it becomes hardened, it can hold its edge for centuries. It is incredible that Damien endured and survived one of the most tragic miscarriages of American justice, and emerged such a centered, articulate and extraordinary man and writer. Life After Death proves that he paid dearly for his wisdom.and#8221; and#8212;Henry Rollins and#160; and#8220;Exceptional memoir by the most famous of the West Memphis Three. [B]are facts alone would make for an interesting story. However, Echols is at heart a poet and mystic, and he has written not just a quickie one-off book to capitalize on a lurid news story, but rather a work of art that occasionally bears a resemblance to the work of Jean Genet. A voracious reader all his life, Echols vividly tells his story, from his impoverished childhood in a series of shacks and mobile homes to his emergence after half a lifetime behind bars as a psychically scarred man rediscovering freedom in New York City. The author also effectively displays his intelligence and sensitivity, qualities the Arkansas criminal justice system had no interest in recognizing during Echolsand#8217; ordeal. Essential reading.and#8221; and#8212;Kirkus Reviews (starred) and#160; and#8220;This is a stunning piece of work. Such hope while faced with injustice. Damien teaches us how to live.and#8221; and#8212;Eddie Vedder and#160; and#8220;[Echolsand#8217;] case garnered worldwide attention, but [his] memoir is about as far away from a publicity-seeking I-was-wronged story as possible. The author opts for a meatier, and certainly more haunting, account of his life behind bars, coupled with flashbacks to his childhood....Echols is a talented writer, and when the book dips into his own spiritual and philosophical beliefs...it achieves the kind of emotional resonance that many similar books lack....A tragic and often disturbing story." and#8212;Booklist and#160; "Damien Echols suffered a shocking miscarriage of justice. A nightmare few could endure.and#160;An innocent man on death row for more than eighteen years, abused by the very system we all fund.and#160;His story will appall, fascinate, and render you feeble with tears and laughter.and#160;A brilliant memoir to battle with literary giants of the calibre of Jean Genet, Gregory David Roberts, and Dostoevsky." and#8212;Johnny Depp and#160; and#8220;[T]his is an eloquent, even bitterly lyrical, portrayal of how an innocent man can slip through the cracks of the legal system and struggle to survive. Compelling and deeply moving, in the tradition of Helen Prejeanand#8217;s Dead Man Walking and Norman Mailerand#8217;s The Executionerand#8217;s Song, this memoir will appeal to a wide audience.and#8221; and#8212;Library Journal (starred) and#160; and#8220;In this searing, finely wrought memoir, Echols recalls his poverty-stricken childhood, the trial of the West Memphis 3, and the harsh realities of life on death row and#8230; The most affecting sections are Echolsand#8217;s philosophical musings on all he has lost, his thoughts often influenced by Zen Buddhismand#8230;.a heart-wrenching and simple commentary on American prison life.and#8221; and#8212;Publisherand#8217;s Weekly (starred) and#160; and#8220;[A] tale of romance, resilience, and the power of the written word.and#8221;
and#8212;Stephanie Palumbo, O, The Oprah Magazine and#8220;Echols is a writer whose talent is commensurate with the task of telling this story....The man who has emerged from death row at last is not quite a hero, but heand#8217;s something far more interesting: an artistand#8212;and, most definitely, well worth meeting.and#8221; and#8212;Laura Miller, Salon.com and#160; and#8220;Grippingand#8230;Echols has already lived a remarkable life, one forged in tragedy and all manner of iniquity. That he is able to write so movingly about the many trials he endured speaks volumes about his intellect and character.and#8221; and#8212;Jesse Singal, The Boston Globe
Synopsis
The definitive memoir by Damien Echols of the “West Memphis Three,” who was falsely convicted of committing three murders, and an unforgettable account of his eighteen years on death row.
Synopsis
In 1993, teenagers Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin, and Jessie Misskelley, Jr.andmdash;who have come to be known as the West Memphis Threeandmdash;were arrested for the murders of three eight-year-old boys in Arkansas. The ensuing trial was marked by tampered evidence, false testimony, and public hysteria. Baldwin and Misskelley were sentenced to life in prison; while eighteen-year-old Echols, deemed the andldquo;ringleader,andrdquo; was sentenced to death. Over the next two decades, the WM3 became known worldwide as a symbol of wrongful conviction and imprisonment, with thousands of supporters and many notable celebrities who called for a new trial. In a shocking turn of events, all three men were released in August 2011.
Now Echols shares his story in fullandmdash;from abuse by prison guards and wardens, to portraits of fellow inmates and deplorable living conditions, to the incredible reserves of patience, spirituality, and perseverance that kept him alive and sane while incarcerated for nearly two decades.
In these pages, Echols reveals himself a brilliant writer, infusing his narrative with tragedy and irony in equal measure: he describes the terrors he experienced every day and his outrage toward the American justice system, and offers a firsthand account of living on Death Row in heartbreaking, agonizing detail. Life After Death is destined to be a riveting, explosive classic of prison literature.
Synopsis
The
New York Times bestselling memoir by Damien Echols of the West Memphis Three,” who was falsely convicted of committing three murders and spent eighteen years on death row.
In 1993 teenagers Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley Jr., known as the West Memphis Three, were arrested for the murders of three boys in Arkansas. The ensuing trial was rife with inconsistencies, false testimony, and superstition. Baldwin and Misskelley were sentenced to life in prison. Echols was sentenced to death. In a shocking reversal, all three were released in August 2011, and now Echols shares his story: from abuses by prison staff to descriptions of inmates and deplorable living conditions to the incredible reserves of patience and spirituality that kept him alive and sane for nearly two decades. A brilliant writer, Echols conveys tragedy and irony in equal measure, describing his anger and outrage toward the American justice system, and providing a window into life on death row in agonizing detail.
Synopsis
Yours for Eternity is an intimate look at the extraordinary love story between Damien Echols and Lorri Davis, who met and married while Echolsauthor of the New York Times bestseller Life After Deathserved nearly eighteen years on death row.
Synopsis
The New York Times bestselling memoir by Damien Echols of the West Memphis Three, who was falsely convicted of three murders and spent nearly eighteen years on Death Rowand#151;Life After Death is destined to be a classic of explosive, riveting prison literature.
Synopsis
New York Times bestselling author Damien Echols and his wife Lorri Davis reveal their intimate and affecting letters, written while Echols was wrongfully imprisoned on death row. An explosive bestseller, Life After Death turned a national spotlight on Damien Echols, who was just eighteen when he was wrongly condemned to death. But one of the most remarkable parts of his story still remained untold. After seeing a documentary about the and#147;West Memphis Three,and#8221; Lorri Davisand#151;a New Yorkbased landscape architectand#151;wrote him a letter, beginning a thirteen-year correspondence that witnessed their marriage while Echols was still on death row and culminated in Echolsand#8217; release in 2011. Sharing their private letters, Yours for Eternity is a must-read for the legions who followed the case as well as anyone who appreciates an extraordinary love story.
About the Author
Damien Echolsand#160;was born in 1974 and grew up in Mississippi, Tennessee, Maryland, Oregon, Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas. At age eighteen he was wrongfully convicted of murder, along with Jason Baldwin and Jessie Miskelley, Jr. Echols received a death sentence and spent almost eighteen years on Death Row, until he, Baldwin, and Misskelley were released in 2011. The West Memphis Three have been the subject ofand#160;Paradise Lost, a three-part documentary series produced by HBO, andand#160;West of Memphis, a documentary produced by Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh. Echols is the author of a self-published memoir, Almost Home. He and his wife, Lorri Davis, live in Massachusetts.