Sparks In The Dark: The Prison Project by Denise Harrison and HMP Guys Marsh Jubilee Wing is a powerful, deeply human collection of works, written by the inmates themselves, that explore recovery, redemption, and the transformative potential of community in the most unlikely of places — behind prison walls.
When award-winning writer and filmmaker Denise Harrison agreed to spend 12 weeks at HMP Guys Marsh, she walked into a men’s prison with a simple but daring goal: to run a reading group rooted in addiction recovery. The project would not only challenge her, but spark real change — and challenge the stigma of imprisonment and incarceration. (See more at findingratpark.co.uk.)
The stories, poems and rap in this book centre around:
- Addiction & Recovery: The men from Jubilee Wing draw on their own journeys, including alcoholism, addiction, abuse and recovery, bringing authenticity.
- Trauma & Healing: Jubilee Wing open up about grief, loss, trust issues, and the emotional scars of their pasts.
- Community & Connection: The reading group they attended with Denise evolved into something more than just therapy.
- Social Impact & Rehabilitation: Jubilee Wing worked on building their own “Rat Park” — a green space outside the wing — and have even write a book, with the aim to continue growth beyond the prison walls. This is that book.
- Hope & Transformation: This is not a book born of hopelessness, but of future possibility — reading, dialogue, and compassion can lead to real change in a system often defined by punishment, not healing.
Why Read This Book?
- For criminal justice reform advocates and prison-education practitioners, this collection offers an inspirational blueprint for restorative programmes.
- For readers interested in addiction memoirs, it’s a raw, honest look at this — not just from substance use, but from trauma.
- For anyone who believes in the power of reading groups, community connection, and second chances, Sparks In The Dark is a testament to human potential.
