Midnight Express (book)

Midnight Express is a 1977 nonfiction book by Billy Hayes and William Hoffer about Hayes' experience as a young American who was sent to a Turkish prison. The U.S. had declared a "War on Drugs" in the early 1970s, and Hayes was made an example of for trying to smuggle hashish out of Turkey. When his sentence was extended to 30 years, he decided to make his escape.^[1]

Midnight Express

First edition
Author	Billy Hayes, William Hoffer
Genre	Non-fiction
Publisher	E. P. Dutton
Publication date	1977
ISBN	0-525-15605-4

The book was adapted by Oliver Stone and directed by Alan Parker into a 1978 feature film of the same name that took many liberties with the book.^[2] After reading the book, Australian country music singer Shane Nicholson recorded an album and title track, Bad Machines, which was inspired by the book.^[3]

Editions

• Dutton, 1977. ISBN 0-525-15605-4 (First edition)