This is an autobiographical account of the experience of the author and her lifelong friend and lover, Alexander Berkman, of being imprisoned for their views and actions. Goldman was Russian by birth but emigrated to America. She was an anarchist and activist for womens rights among other issues. Berkman was imprisoned for 22 years for the attempted murder in 1892 of the business man Henry Clay Frick, and Goldman, on several occasions, for incitement to riot and distributing information about birth control. The book is a fascinating glimpse into late nineteenth century American politics and social life.