"Mein Kampf," which is the German phrase for "my struggle," is the famous autobiography of Adolf Hitler while he was imprisoned in Munich's Landsberg Castle for taking part in the Beer Hall Putsch in 1923. Originally entitled "Four Years of Struggle against Lies, Stupidity, and Cowardice," Hitler's first and only book was published in 1926. It lays out his ideas on Germany's future, politics, Aryan superiority and the use of propaganda.
Despite the lack of solid evidence, it is commonly accepted among historians that the Warwickshire knight Sir Thomas Malory wrote "Le Morte d'Arthur" during the 1450s while imprisoned for thuggery, theft, and perhaps even rape. "Le Morte d'Arthur" is Malory's famous collection of tales that center around themes of chivalry and the legend of King Arthur. It has served as a source of reference and pleasure for fans of King Arthur and his knights.
Miguel de Cervantes was in jail for financial discrepancies when he began writing his novel about a man's mad obsession with chivalry and courtly love. His purpose in penning "Don Quixote" was stated in the prologue. It was an attempt to express his views on life, manners and relationships in "simple, honest and well-measured words." Though it brought Cervantes fame and recognition, he remained relatively poor until his death in 1616.
Donatien Alphonse François, more commonly known as the Marquis de Sade, was a French libertine who spent many years imprisoned on sexual conduct charges. He used some of that time to write controversial, often sexually explicit, novels. His most famous work is "Justine, Philosophy in the Bedroom," a story about an innocent youth who finds herself surrounded by sexual predators. The Marquis finished the first draft in 1787 while imprisoned in the Bastille, the famed fortress-prison of Paris.