Hodder triumphs in eight-way auction for former prison officer South’s memoir 

Hodder & Stoughton has won an eight-way auction for Behind These Doors: Stories of  Strength, Suffering and Survival in Prison by former prison officer Alex South.

Huw Armstrong, senior commissioning editor, acquired UK and Commonwealth rights from Sophie Lambert at C&W for publication in hardback, e-book and audiobook in spring 2023.

The synopsis reads: “Alex South spent 10 years working as a prison officer in men’s high security prisons. It’s a role which is varied and mostly hidden from view. Experiencing some of the UK’s most infamous prisons, Alex was exposed to a harsh environment, surrounded by men who have done unspeakable things. 

“As she spends more time with these inmates, she discovers that they confide in her, sharing their vulnerabilities and struggles. Telling their stories, as well as her own, Alex shows that being understanding of each other and approaching difficult subjects can be freeing.

“Behind these Doors is a provocative and insightful exploration about what it is like to live and work in an environment that is designed to make you suffer. It explores the value of human relationships by looking at the stories that propel people to prisons, what it is that keeps them going back and why we should all care. Taking the reader through every aspect of prison, from the Wing to the Kitchen, this is a moving and balanced depiction of life in prison and its many devastating, but often inspiring, consequences.”

South, who has worked at Whitemoor, Wormwood Scrubs and Belmarsh prisons as an officer, senior officer and custodial manager, said of her book: “Prisons are home to almost 80,000 men, women and children in England and Wales, and yet very little is known about what it’s like to live and work in these places. I’m delighted to be working with Hodder in bringing these hidden worlds to light, and in doing so share the remarkable courage and kindness that can exist in the dark.”

Armstrong said: “Here’s a book that will give you hope. What Alex has done with Behind These Doors is change the angle on a traditional and tired stereotype – that prisons are dark places full of evil people. 

“Alex has written something incredibly moving and impactful. This is storytelling at its very best; written with a huge amount of empathy and warmth, it shines a new light onto a part of society that’s forgotten and overlooked. All that’s left to say is this is an extremely good book and I feel very lucky to be working with Alex in bringing it to the world."

Lambert added: “I am thrilled that Huw and the excellent team at Hodder will be publishing Alex’s astonishingly illuminating and compassionate account of what it is to live and work in some of the UK’s most infamous prisons. Alex is a hugely talented storyteller and I look forward to pressing this important book into many, many hands.”