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Product Information

Marching Powder is the story of Thomas McFadden, a small-time English drug smuggler who was arrested in Bolivia and thrown inside the notorious San Pedro prison. He found himself in a bizarre world, the prison reflecting all that is wrong with South American society. Prisoners have to pay an entrance fee and buy their own cells (the alternative is to sleep outside and die of exposure), prisoners' wives and children often live inside too, high quality cocaine is manufactured and sold from the prison, and all the police from the governor downwards can be bribed. Under the surface is a frightening level of violence - Thomas's life was often in danger and one of his friends was murdered by the police when he threatened to expose the corruption in the prison. Thomas ended up making a living by giving backpackers tours of the prison - he became a fixture on the backpacking circuit and was named in the Lonely Planet guide to Bolivia. When he was told that for a bribe of USD5000 his sentence could be overturned, it was the many backpackers who'd passed through who sent him the money. Sometimes shocking, sometimes funny, Marching Powder is an always riveting story of survival.

Product Identifiers

PublisherPan Macmillan

ISBN-139780330419581

eBay Product ID (ePID)89710822

Product Key Features

Number of Pages384 Pages

LanguageEnglish

Publication NameMarching Powder

Publication Year2004

TypeTextbook

AuthorRusty Young

Subject AreaCriminal Law, Biographies & True Stories

FormatPaperback

Dimensions

Item Height197 mm

Item Weight301 g

Item Width130 mm

Additional Product Features

Country/Region of ManufactureUnited Kingdom

Title_AuthorRusty Young

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4.8

27 product ratings

23 users rated this 5 out of 5 stars
3 users rated this 4 out of 5 stars
0 users rated this 3 out of 5 stars
1 users rated this 2 out of 5 stars
0 users rated this 1 out of 5 stars

Would recommend

Good value

Compelling content

Most relevant reviews

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by 7640paula
04 Mar, 2021
Great read
Good insight into life in jail..very well written. Think I still prefer my Snowblind by Peter Sabbag. Which is more about importation. See
Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-owned
by cjw201
02 Jan, 2019
Ex (hopefully) library book!
This was an old library book!! With a 50p sticker on it and I paid way more than that!! The actual book was readable (and very good) but appalling quality even as a second hand purchase.
Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-owned
by roxanne1806
02 Nov, 2019
Excellent
Excellent book, very gripping. A mix of comedic wry moments and serious moments. Enjoyed the photos and the way the book flowed. Would recommend.
Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-owned
by scotscraig1984
05 Jun, 2024
Good book at a good price
Good book at a good price
Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-owned
by josjo.m.oe5lide
29 Jun, 2019
Fantastic you won't put it down
One of the best books I have ever read it was brilliant I'm reading it again you won't put this book down .
Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-owned
by d.j.moe
22 Nov, 2018
Excellent
Can't put it down. An unbelievable true story
Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-owned
by anniesatticukstore
22 Jan, 2020
The best book I’ve ever read
This book is amazing. Such a fascinating story.
Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-owned
by sharontramore
30 Apr, 2020
Excellent quality second hand book no damage to the book
Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-owned
by bab_bbl_txontcexu
18 Sep, 2020
Seems a good read
No finished it yet
Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-owned
by rolp06
30 Oct, 2018
Excellent read
A very interesting and compelling read,good value for the money.
Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-owned