Introduction

Abstract

This book explores the role and significance of Long Kesh/Maze prison in Northern Ireland as a place of incarceration and internment. Drawing on the perspectives of prison officers, contractors, administrators, visitors, and prisoners themselves, it examines Long Kesh/Maze's various interconnections and relationships at many levels with the society within which it is located. Although the archaeological remains are situated on the Long Kesh/Maze site, the book shows that the boundaries of this seminal landscape are not confined to the perimeter watchtowers, wires, and walls. It considers the impact of Long Kesh/Maze prison not only on those who resided within it but also on the lives of every person who lived in Northern Ireland and who experienced the turmoil of the Troubles. It also analyses the bounded nature of the way the prison has been presented as well as its social, cultural, and political implications outside its physical confines.