Breaking the Rock: The Great Escape from Alcatraz

Having read and seen everything I could get my hands on about the Acatraz breakout, this book provided yet MORE interesting details. Frank Morris was literally a genius and he and the Anglin brothers successfully? busted out of the most famous "escape proof prison" of them all. From details like his nicknames in prison: "Frankie" and "Ace" we also learn about who was on guard that night and various lapses on the part of the prison staff which lead up to the breakout. In addition, there are many never before published photos of the island and principals involved. The author was a little girl living on the island at the time and gives other tidbits about life there for both the staff and prisoners. While her opinion is that the "Tablespoon Trio" did not make it, she also leaves the door cracked open for the reader to draw their own conclusions. Truly a diamond in the rough for anyone wanting to read about the awesome triumph of the human spirit under the most extreme circumstances!

Author Jolene Babyak was a child at Alcatraz while her father was the assistant warden and provides us with minute details of the 1962 escape attempt by inmates West, Morris, and the Anglin brothers. The detailed planning, cooperation from other inmates, and the special care that went into this attempt is astounding and I got the feeling the inmates were convinced they actually would make it to shore in their raft while, perhaps, forgetting just how difficult their task would be once they hit the water. We are left to wonder whether inmate West had a change of heart and stayed behind because he was afraid of the water or being doublecrossed by the Anglin brothers or was he just lucky he stayed behind because he couldn't get out of the back of his cell. He was left to tell the tale while the others just vanished, most likely to a watery grave. I did find quite a number of spelling and grammatical mistakes. I was lucky to tour Alcatraz two weeks ago and have the author autograph my copy of the book. This book, along with the Battle at Alcatraz by Ernest Lageson describing the 1946 escape attempt are both first rate and worth reading.

This book portrays one of the best prison tales from someone with first hand expirence. I bought this book on the Rock and had it signed by Jolene. she shows her personality through this book using great detail. "Breaking the Rock" brings you step by step, day by day, and inch by inch along the the story of the escape. This book is great for experts and novices on the topic of Alcatraz.

Jolene Babyak's "Breaking The Rock" is a fascinating, well written account of the greatest prison escape in American history. She supplies a wealth of detail that is so well presented that you feel like you are there. The book is so well written that it reads like a suspense novel. Excellent!

Breaking The Rock: The Great Escape From Alcatraz is a brand new, revealing, and vivid look at the notorious failure of the infamous Alcatraz prison. It reexamines details about the seemingly impossible escape that have been taken for granted due to Hollywood's take on what really happened. Breaking the Rock is for those who want to know more than the assumptions of the silver screen. It minutely details how salty sea air (rather than the salt water, as was widely thought) eroded the concrete and rusted the towers; how a critical watch post was closed on the night of the escape; how the role of prisoner Allen Clayton West was much more pivotal than the movies would lead one to believe. Breaking The Rock is highly recommended for anyone who is fascinated about the true history of this remote and imposing American prison.