Midnight Express (book)

{{DISPLAYTITLE:Midnight Express (book)}}

{{short description|1977 book by Billy Hayes and William Hoffer}}{{Infobox book

| image = Midnight Express (book).jpg

| author = Billy Hayes, William Hoffer

| isbn = 0-525-15605-4

| pub_date = 1977

| genre = Non-fiction

| publisher = E. P. Dutton

| caption = First edition

}}

Midnight Express is a 1977 nonfiction book by Billy Hayes and William Hoffer about Hayes' experience as a young American who was sent to a Turkish prison. The U.S. had declared a "War on Drugs" in the early 1970s, and Hayes was made an example of for trying to smuggle hashish out of Turkey. When his sentence was extended to 30 years, he decided to make his escape.{{cite web|url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/a/billy-with-william-hoffer-hayes-2/midnight-express-2/|title=Midnight Express [review]|date=n.d.|website=Kirkus|publisher=Kirkus Media, LLC}}

The book was adapted by Oliver Stone and directed by Alan Parker into a 1978 feature film of the same name that took many liberties with the book.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2020/film/columns/midnight-express-billy-hayes-oliver-stone-book-1234752608/|last1=Hayes|first1=Billy|title=‘Midnight Express’ Author Billy Hayes Slams Oliver Stone’s ‘Self-Serving’ Book (Guest Column)|website=Variety|date=August 28, 2020}} After reading the book, Australian country music singer Shane Nicholson recorded an album and title track, Bad Machines, which was inspired by the book.{{cite web|url=https://www.themuses.com.au/shane-nicholson-bad-machines-cd-2/|title= Shane Nicholson and Bad Machine CD|website=The Muses|access-date=30 April 2020}}