An in-depth exploration of the Don Jail from its inception through jailbreaks and overcrowding to its eventual shuttering and rebirth. Conceived as a palace for prisoners, the Don Jail never lived up to its promise. Although based on progressive nineteenth-century penal reform and architectural principles, the institution quickly deteriorated into a place of infamy where both inmates and staff were in constant danger of violence and death. Its mid-twentieth-century replacement, the New Don, soon became equally tainted. Along with investigating the origins and evolution of Torontos infamous jail,The Don presents a kaleidoscope of memorable characters inmates, guards, governors, murderous gangs, meddlesome politicians, harried architects, and even a pair of star-crossed lovers whose doomed romance unfolded in the shadow of the gallows. This is the story of the Dons tumultuous descent from palace to hellhole, its shuttering and lapse into decay, and its astonishing modern-day metamorphosis.Speaker's Book Award 2021 Shortlisted | Brass Knuckles Award for Best Nonfiction Crime Book 2022 Shortlisted

Lorna Poplak is a writer, editor, and researcher, with a fascination for the stories behind the facts of Canadian history. She lives in Toronto.

IntroductionAuthors NoteIntroduction1. Out with the Old2. Location, Location, Location3. Paradise Lost4. In with the New5. Cornerstones6. A Change of Plan7. Fire8. The End Result9. Governor of Long Standing10. Greener Pastures11. Folk Hero12. Vera Walks Free13. A Fire Hand14. War Hero15. The Polka Dot Gang16. The Great Escape17. Cop Killers18. The End of the Line19. A New Beginning20. Crowded Corner21. At Deaths Door22. Down with the Don23. From Bad to Worse24. Adaptive Reuse25. Digging Up the Past26. Makeover27. Remember the DonAcknowledgementsSelected BibliographyImage CreditsIndexAbout the Author