"Peter Zinoman's study focuses on the colonial prison system in French Indochina and its role in fostering modern political consciousness among the Vietnamese. Using prison memoirs, newspaper articles, and extensive archival records, Zinoman presents a wealth of significant new information to document how colonial prisons, rather than quelling political dissent and maintaining order, instead became institutions that promoted nationalism and revolutionary education.".

"Zinoman includes case studies of large prison rebellions to highlight the colonial prison's capacity to generate solidarity among criminals, political prisoners, and native guards. He also demonstrates how media coverage of prisons contributed to the development of Vietnamese nationalism. Finally, he analyzes how the post-colonial communist state promoted its founders' heroic "prison memoirs" to serve specific political objectives.

Offering valuable insight into methods of disciplinary power and their possible consequences, The Colonial Bastille will appeal not only to readers in Asian studies but also to those interested in colonialism, comparative revolutions, and penology."--BOOK JACKET.