"The Prison Life of Jefferson Davis" is John Craven's absorbing first-person account of Confederate President, Jefferson Davis' imprisonment after the Civil War. Davis, accused of treason, the plot to assassinate President Lincoln, and the horrors of Andersonville Prison, spent two years in prison after General Robert E. Lee surrendered to the North to General Ulysses S. Grant. Craven served as personal physician to President Davis for seven months of his imprisonment and has recorded his experiences in this captivating story.

An introduction by anecdote: the old-fashioned preface in a new dress -- Fortress Monroe-the ceremonial of delivering Mr. Davis into custody-his first day in the casemate -- Placing Mr. Davis in irons-his protest and his struggles-my first visit to the prisoner -- Conversation with Mr. Davis on many points-the removal of his shackles demanded as a medical necessity -- Conversations of some interest-the shackles removed-Mr. Davis on various scientific subjects -- Operations on the southern coast-Davis hears that he is indicted and to be tried-his joy-views of his own defense -- Mr. Davis on the New England character-future of the South and southern blacks -- Mr. Davis on cruelty to prisoners-Mexico-Turtle on the southern coast-The southern leaders an aristocracy-lecture on the fine arts, by a strange man in a strange place -- Mr. Davis on Gen. Butler and Dutch gap-he denies that succession was treason-his opinion of Grant, McClellan, Pope, and other Union officers; also of Bragg, Lee and Pemberton-his flight from Richmond and arrest -- Diseases of the eye-guards removed from the prisoner's room-Mr. Davis takes his first walk on the ramparts-the policy of conciliation-Dr. Davis on improvements in land and naval warfare -- Mr. Lincoln's assassination-ex-president Pierce-torture of being constantly watched-Mr. Davis on the members of his Cabinet and the opponents of his administration-touching tribute to the memory of "Stonewall" Jackson -- Mr. Davis seriously ill-restrictions on correspondence with his wife-Clement C. Clay-a rampart interview-religious phase of Mr. Davis' character -- Southern migration to Mexico-Mr. Calhoun's memory vindicated from one charge-tribute to Albert Sidney Johnston-failure of southern iron-clads and loss of the Mississippi -- Mr. Davis on negro character-the assassination of President Lincoln-how the prisoner's food was served-a solemn and interesting statement -- Southern non-belligerents-the ant-lion and its habits-Mr. Davis on the future of the southern blacks -- Mr. Davis on Fenianism-highly important-his views of reconstruction -- Mr. Davis seriously ill-change of quarters officially recommended-the pictures and poetry of the Bible-Lafayette's imprisonment-marvelous memory and great variety of knowledge-Mr. Davis on female lecturers-the true mission of women -- Mr. Davis on sensation news-the condition of the negro-Gen. Butler at Drury's Bluff-Bishop Lynch and the Sisters of Charity-a story after the manner of President Lincoln -- Treason-states and national-the fish-hawk and bald-eagle-Mr. Davis on Senator Benton, ex-President Buchanan, and President Andrew Johnson-preparations to remove Mr. Davis to Carroll Hall -- Visit to Richmond-General Lee-Mr. Davis on horseback exercise-Macaulay's pictorial power -- Removal to Carroll Hall-some curious coincidences-a foolish precaution-interesting letter from Mrs. Davis-adventures of the family from incarceration of Mr. Davis up to date -- A new regiment on guard-ordered not to communicate with Mr. Davis, save on "strictly professional matters"-the correspondence about prisoner's overcoat -- General summary in conclusion-the character of Mr. Davis-let us be merciful!