Lawrence Wright’s ‘Redemption’ Explores Unlikely Sisterhood

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Lawrence Wright delves into an unusual connection between Catholic nuns and women on Texas’ death row in his book, Redemption: Faith, Justice, and Sisterhood on Death Row. While both groups live in rooms called cells and follow similar daily routines, Wright uncovers deeper similarities.

The book chronicles the lives of seven women awaiting execution and the Sisters of Mary Morning Star, who spend time with them. Wright sheds light on the nuns’ lifestyle, noting, “These nuns have a code of silence. They only have one meal together all week.” He convinced them to share their experiences for his research.

Despite starkly different backgrounds, the women on death row found kindred spirits among the nuns. The religious sisters introduced them to ancient monastic traditions, teaching them how to coexist in harmony. This shared experience profoundly influenced both groups.

Wright suggests many incarcerated women underwent significant personal transformations after years in prison. His findings also cast doubt on the fairness of Texas’ justice system. Wright raises concerns about inmates who may not deserve their sentences and highlights broader justice system issues, such as long-term incarceration followed by execution, which he finds unjust.

The book questions the fairness of who faces execution, suggesting it undermines equal justice under the law. Wright’s work invites readers to contemplate these ethical concerns.

The feature was produced for NPR by Nia Dumas and Lilly Quiroz, with Adriana Gallardo’s editing. The online version underwent editing by Majd Al-Waheidi.