There is no neutrality in Northern Ireland at least in the terminological sense：the use of the term"Northern Ireland"places a writer on one side of the conflict. because to an Irish Nationalist there is no such entity. There are numerous other such ciphers by which the parties to the conflict in Ireland identify the allegiance of a writer or speaker This book is essentially the story of Irish Nationalist prisoners and I have therefore tended to use their terminology. varying it where the context warrants it. For the guidance of readers more familiar with official terminology the following are the main terms affected：Northern Ireland，or Ulster，is referred to as"northern" Ireland，"the north"，or the"six, counties"；Londonderry as Derry；the Maze Prison as Long Kesh；the Republic of Ireland is "the south"（the Government of the Republic is，however，the"Irish Government"，or merely‘Dublin’l：prison officers or warders in some instances are referred to，in prison argot，as"Screws"，and the British authorities sometimes as "the Brits".