Damnation Island

We think we live in a terrible world today, a world that is especially terrible for those who are poor or sick or criminal or mad. Of course that is true, but read Damnation Island and suddenly you will see real deep terribleness. This is the story of the places people were sent to live when they couldn't pay their debts or they committed petty crimes or they suffered from diseases for which there was no cure or they exhibited extreme behavior. It was hellish. And, sadly, it seems to have been created with the best of intentions.