These are the prison memoirs of a Russian human rights activist who served four years in a hard labour camp for writing poetry. She continued to write whilst imprisoned, and her work was smuggled to the West resulting in pressure for her release, which was finally granted in October 1986. Western politicians, the media, the Church and countless individuals campaigned for Ratushinskaya's release, and it took place amid much publicity. She came to Britain for medical treatment and has become very well known and well regarded as a prolific poet. This prose text is the story of her survival.