James ‘Jimmy’ Boyle was born 17 May 1944 in Gorbals, Glasgow, Scotland. Influenced by his harsh surroundings, Jimmy entered the world of crime as a youth.

In 1967, he was given a life sentence for murder, a crime he didn’t commit. Clashes with authorities and solitary confinement ensued. But, in 1973, Jimmy was one of the first offenders to participate in a rehabilitation program that included art therapy, which awakened a major creative talent.

After his parole in 1982, and thanks to the discovery of his artistic talents, including sculpture work, Jimmy became an acclaimed artist and one of Scotland's most reformed criminals.

First published in 1977, A Sense of Freedom is Jimmy’s experience of youth in Gorbals, imprisonment as a young man and the courage to start life over again as a renowned sculpture artist.