synopsis:

'Borstal Boy' is an autobiographical book about the borstals, or juvenile detention centers, in England. Behan spent three years of his life holed up in one when he was caught in 1939, at age 16, carrying a suitcase full of explosive devices in Liverpool.

The book begins with Behan's arrest and trial. A known member of the IRA, he had youthful notions of glory through combating the "evil imperialist British Empire". Fortunately for him, he was caught with explosives before his 17th birthday, so he was tried as a minor and ended up in a borstal institution, not an adult prison.

Behan initially seems smug at the notion of getting three years in a borstal. Many IRA members would receive 20 years or more for similar offenses. What is interesting in the book is that Behan will recount only a few offenses committed by the British Empire, and he does this only when judges or other officials denounce the animalistic violence of the IRA.it is intriguing that, while staying in prison during his trial, Behan befriended a number of English prisoners. Behan does not seem to bear any personal animosity toward the English.

on this book:

This book gives a good day-to-day accounting of life in these borstals, from meal times to religious services. 'Borstal Boys' suggests that life inside the borstal system was not that bad. They were fed well and allowed to keep their faiths. They also had a library, which Behan was known to frequent often and where he read many great works of literature. He became friendly with the librarian in charge.

Behan utilizes a lot of slang in the book. therfore there is a glossary in the back to explain the terms. It would be confusing without it.in 2000 a film based on this novel came out.