Jane Elliott : The Little Prisoner
Tuesday, June 5th, 2007Book Review by Wanda Gibson
The Little Prisoner by Jane Elliot 
Jane Elliott recounts a tale of abuse at the hands of a sadistic step-father and completely ineffectual mother. She and her brother were placed into care on a number of occasions when her parents’ marriage failed. When she was four years old, her life changed. Jane was returned to her mother whilst her brother was never heard of again. When some of the social workers heard that she had been returned to her mother’s care, they apparently resigned in protest.
Jane’s mother began a long-term relationship with a man called Richard who turned out to be a most sadistic and calculating perpetrator. Her account is rather disjointed as most autobiographical memoirs of abuse are. Her mother and stepfather produced three other half-siblings who were all encouraged to use torture and punitive measures against her.
Some of the incidents she recounts are shocking in their primitive simplicity. The story takes a different turn as Jane approaches adulthood. Despite her years, she was still trapped by the demands of the stepfather and his violent bullying tactics. No one, including those with authority - and even the police, had the courage to stand up to him.
Her story is told in a matter of fact manner which makes it all the more devastating as a result. The final chapters describe the court case as she prosecutes her stepfather and her mother. The extended family have been mobilised to beat or kill in order to protect the stepfather. Even after he was found guilty and imprisoned, their pursuit of her didn’t stop until she was beaten almost senseless.
I think the most frustrating aspect of this story is not necessarily the realistic accounts of abuse and torture, but the lack of belief and motivation to protect her on the part of ordinary men and women, including those who should have known better. There are several examples where patronising, self-righteous individuals created more damage and chaos by simply not believing that human beings could behave in this way towards others.
My concern is that some people will pick up this book anticipating a sorrowful journey through a mildly abusive childhood where everything comes right in the end. This is not the case with this book. There is no really happy ending. There is no apology from the abuser. There is no acknowledgement from those who should have protected her that Jane was right. There is, however, the recognition by Jane that she did the right thing, even though the cost was high.
As Jane Elliott herself said, “I suspect that the audiences for books like The Little Prisoner fall into two categories. Firstly, there are those who come from stable, happy homes, who can’t understand how anyone can abuse a child, and want to find out about a world they can barely imagine. Secondly, there are those who suffered something similar themselves and find some comfort in discovering they are not alone in the world. They get some inspiration from discovering that not only is it possible to go on to lead happy and normal lives, but that you can actually turn all that misery into something positive.”
This book is not for everyone. It makes for uncomfortable reading, but the flat, sometimes disjointed style gives it the ring of truth, and there are times when we need to learn about the pain people have suffered, even if it is uncomfortable.
Elliott, J. (2005)The Little Prisoner Harper Element
ISBN0-00-720893-6
£6.99
January 17th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
I have just finished reading Jane’s book and i cried so much, it is so heartbreaking.
I would love to meet Jane in person because she is so amazing, so strong willed, people will learn alot from Jane.
Richard done so much to her and she put up with her for so long - it’s just terrible, people like that shouldn’t just be put away, they should be tortured just like they tortured their victims.
Jasmine Bailey
Feltham
Middlesex
June 22nd, 2008 at 10:50 pm
after reading the little prisoner, i must admit that i felt her emotions and came to be more aware that even the closet people can torment and keep one silent for years. Jane is an indeed a role model for all females.
July 1st, 2008 at 6:05 am
I have read janes book about fives times because i am so amazed at how she coped with it all and people will learn alot from what she has been through and i would just like to say youre book is the best one i have read yet and i read 2 books a week.i would just like to know if you jane youreself would send me a letter my mum would go crazy if we got a letter from you my mum cried when she read youre book.
[editted]
thank you soooo mutch if we do recieve a letter from you and we would reply if you left us a address to sent it back to.
August 13th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
I have just read The Little Prisoner and picked it up perchance looking for something to read whilst soaking in the bath. As soon as I read the first page I felt my chest freeze up as I realised what I was about to read. I felt that despite having read other people’s account of childhood abuse before perhaps another tale of the unthinkable was not what I wanted to read. Needless to say I read the book from start to finish last night, as I know and every reader of Jane’s book knows that everyone deserves the chance to speak out and be listened to. It hurt me to think that a child could be subjected to such cruelty in every way, and it has really readjusted my perspective of my own upbringing which I have sometimes thought of as being somewhat punitory.
Once I finished reading Jane’s book I stood at the end of my daughter’s bed and watched her sleep, knowing her only fear at night is if her teddy falls on the floor.
To be honest, I am not really sure how to end this message but I think that is the point of Jane’s account. It is just incomprehensible how someone could do this and be protected by so many.
January 13th, 2009 at 9:39 pm
this bookis amazing and really sad i can not believe she survived all this. i in diying to contact her to tell her that im really proud of her.
January 16th, 2009 at 2:40 pm
RIA-I haven’t read the whole book but i can tell Jane has put up with a lot from that man, she is strong-will, and her mind must be strong to know that your family is against you. her boyfriend was so kind to her!!!
MELIS- I haven’t read the whole story but i have read the abusing bits. When i first got told that she got torchoured i was unable to believe it unless i read the book but i believe that she is a very strong woman.
February 20th, 2009 at 1:37 pm
I starting reading The Little Prisoner yesterday evening, read it through to the end and didn’t put it down once.
Jane is an inspiring individual. Selfless, strong, courageous and a true role model to all of us. I wish for her that this had never had to have been written in the first place. She has proved that even in our darkest hours there is always light at the end of the tunnel. I wish Jane, her husband and children all the happiness and love for the future.
As for the family of delinquents, they are the kind of people that drag society down. How anyone can back an abusive, violent pedophile is beyond reason or logic. I sincerely hope that Richard and his band of misfits rot in hell.
April 3rd, 2009 at 5:09 pm
i have just finsihed reading the book and have been stuck to it since 1 april . i even took it to school because i just couldnt put it down, this lead to crying in class and becoming upset and being grateful for the life i have.
i would love to meet jane herself as she is a very brave and such a good role model for those whom need her, she has a strong heart and is very emotional and serious with her life
loved the book, deffinitly recomended!
yasmin
14
co.durham
May 9th, 2009 at 8:02 am
I have just finished reading the little prisoner for the second time. My heart really bleeds for Jane, that she couldn’t lead a normal life because of her stepfathers prevention to do so. I had tears in my eyes when I finished the book because I could almost feel the joy of Jane when Richard was found guilty. I hope that Jane reads all of the messages left here so that she can see that she is a brave person and we all admire that.
I defiantly recommend this book.
Kate Ball
11
July 31st, 2009 at 11:12 pm
I have just finished reading the little Prinsoner. i could not put this book down how anyone can be so vicius and abusive towards children is beyong me. you have come out the otherside can only be described as a miracle. I only wish the rest of the family leave you alone and you have recovered from your beating. Yes you were right in speaking out. I am 56 and only just got over my, what i call mental abuse in my childhood. love to your husband Steve and your childrenxx
December 6th, 2009 at 6:50 pm
I have just finished reading janes story and am so upset to think u had to go thru it. I would love to meet u as u r an inspiration. I look up to you and god bless you…
January 6th, 2010 at 7:07 pm
I´ve been reading this book again and again.
It´s terrible that those things happen to inoccent people like jane.
I´m 16 now, and people may say that that´s a little young for reading a book like the little prisoner. It may be weird but I completely understand every single word she says.
I´m dutch, and I don´t know much about abuse in our country, but even I know that it´s getting worse here.
I read it in the papers, see it on the news, everywere.
Everyone schould read your book jane, and realize about what they really should be worried about,
Instead of a little fight with there parents about going out or somthing.
I know what it is to feel pain, not in a way like jane did, but my parents have done some stupid things also. the didn´t hurt me, but the were using drugs since i was born, so I live with fosterparents. I think that that´s why I understans her so well.
I´d love to meet her sometime. She´san amezing strong women.
Good luck, and much love for you jane,
I want you to know that i´m thinking about you.
Take care…