RustyYoungwasbackpackinginSouthAmericawhenheheardaboutThomasMcFadden,aconvictedEnglishdrugtraffickerwhorantoursinsideBolivia’snotoriousSanPedroprison.Intrigued,theyoungAustralianjournalistedwenttoLaPazandjoinedoneofThomas’sillegaltours.TheyformedaninstantfriendshipandthenbecamepartnersinanattempttorecordThomas’sexperiencesinthejail.Rustybribedtheguardstoallowhimtostayandforthenextthreemonthshelivedinsidetheprison,sharingacellwithThomasandrecordingoneofthestrangestandmostcompellingprisonstoriesofalltime.TheresultisMarchingPowder.ThisbookestablishesthatSanPedroisnotyouraverageprison.Inmatesareexpectedtobuytheircellsfromrealestateagents.Othersrunshopsandrestaurants.Womenandchildrenlivewithimprisonedfamilymembers.Itisaplacewherecorruptpoliticiansanddruglordsliveinluxuryapartments,whilethepoorestprisonersaresubjectedtosqualoranddeprivation.Violenceisaconstantthreat,andsectionsofSanPedrothatechowiththesoundofchildrenbydayhousesomeofBolivia’sbusiestcocainelaboratoriesbynight.InSanPedro,cocaine--“Bolivianmarchingpowder“--makeslifebearable.Eventheprisoncatisaddicted.YetMarchingPowderisalsothetaleoffriendship,aplacewherehorroriscounteredbyhumorandcrueltyandcompassioncaninhabitthesamecell.Thisiscutting-edgetravel-writingandafascinatingaccountofinfiltrationintotheSouthAmericandrugculture.
