The Rock: J. Campbell Bruce's Classic on the Alcatraz Escape
About the book
"The Rock" by J. Campbell Bruce is a thorough account of Alcatraz prison's history and the legendary escape on the night of June 12, 1962. The book chronicles how Frank Morris and brothers John and Clarence Anglin pulled off one of the most ingenious prison breaks in history.
Bruce describes in detail how the three inmates spent months planning their escape, digging through ventilation shafts with makeshift tools, and crafting papier-mâché dummies to fool the guards. They built a raft out of raincoats and vanished into the dark, cold waters of San Francisco Bay.
Although authorities officially declared the three men drowned, their fate has never been conclusively resolved. The book presents both the official investigations and the many theories about whether the inmates survived.
"The Rock" offers a unique glimpse into life behind the walls of America's most notorious prison, which housed the country's most dangerous criminals from 1934 to 1963. Bruce's well-researched work remains an authoritative source for understanding both Alcatraz prison and the mysterious escape that inspired the film "Escape from Alcatraz," starring Clint Eastwood.
