Life on the Rock was not easy. The most difficult part proved to be repeating the same routine over and over again. The Monday through Friday grind allowed only six minutes of daily conversation in the years when the rule of silence was enforced. From 1934 until 1937, inmates could speak on only three occasions: during mealtime to request salt, pepper, and sugar; in the yard on Saturdays; and for three minutes during a morning and afternoon work break (later extended to thirty minutes). The inmate's structured life required being in the proper place at the precise time every day.

Ruled by the Whistle

On weekdays, inmates stayed locked in their cells a minimum of fourteen hours. Working and eating used up the hours outside of the cells. When the island was blanketed in fog or the weather was too inclement, the routine was different. Inmates...