A fantastic book, completely mind-blowing, that outlines the sub-culture of tattooing in Russian prisons. [The books] told us what the tattoos meant and how they could become central to the movie. I said to Steve Knight [writer] when you see these books you're going to want to do a major re-write to incorporate tattoos as a central metaphor.
David Cronenberg. Director, Eastern Promises

A unique social document recording a now disappearing sub-culture. The criminals inhabit as desperate a nether world as you are likely to come across. A hipnotic aspect of art and words. 
Index

The prison tattooist's life is made doubly difficult given the ink at his disposal. Called 'mazut' it's usually made of fuel oil mixed with dirt. For splashes of colour the tattooist will squirrel away the most valuable food products in the prison camp: tea, fat and jam. The poorest will make do with urine, soot and ground-up boot heels.
Maxim

For once, there's a sequel that is equally as powerful and captivating as its predecessor.
Domy Books

The book uses drawings made over the years by a prison warder called Danzig Baldaev, who, during the course of work in reformatory settlements all over the former Soviet Union, collected some 3,600 images. There are also photographs, of the most dismal character.
James Fenton, The Guardian