Public Executions

by Nigel Cawthorne and Nigel Cawthornw

Book Overview

Although public executions were outlawed in Britain in 1868 and in the United States in 1936, there are still a great many countries around the world where this practice is common. From the arenos of... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1841934178
• ISBN13: 9781841934174
• Release Date: January 2006
• Publisher: Capella
• Weight: 1.53 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Times seem to have changed for the better

This is a quick and easy read with numerous graphic illustrations of agonizing torture, grisly executions, and bodies left to hang and rot on the cross or gibbet. These are often accompanied by even more graphic first hand accounts of the particular executions or tortures being inflicted. At times, this makes for gruesome reading, and having a morbid curiosity and some intestinal fortitude certainly helps, but whether one reads about it or not doesn't change history. These sad events are a part of modern man's history, and this author tells his story in a most complete, comprehensive, and compelling way. You may be horrified by the ghastly tortures and deaths inflicted on people down through the ages, oft times for minor crimes or indiscretions and almost always at the behest of those with absolute power (an emperor, king, revolutionary leader, inquisitor, or such) who, by today's standards, would be considered a deranged tyrant in a class with Adolph Hitler. Chances are you'll also begin to wonder where they managed to find executioners willing to inflict such agony and torment. And you'll likely wonder how those living at the time became so hardened to life that thousands of men, women, and children would crowd about, and even pay, to watch someone being burned or butchered. If you read closely, however, you will also discover that even the most cruel and demonic rulers had a soft spot when dealing with the nobility. For, except for the most egregious crimes (such as treason, sleeping with the king's wife, or just being in the way), the milder forms of execution, such as having one's head chopped off, were generally reserved the upper classes. (Wouldn't you know it.) Persons of lesser standing, the masses, might be burned alive at the stake or hanged and then have their heads chopped off. But, of course, even these were the truly milder forms of execution. If nothing else, this book lets the reader glimpse into the past and fosters a new appreciation for the times in which we live. For, in present day America, a man or woman can't be sentenced to death for stealing a loaf of bread; or for homosexuality, bestiality, or adultery; and a man or woman convicted of murdering a child may be sentenced to death and then die of old age before his/her sentence is ever carried out. And, even if that sentence is carried out, there will be protestors in the streets claiming that, whatever form that execution took, it was cruel and unusual punishment. Times seem to have changed for the better, but until they read this book, those protestors really have no idea what cruel and unusual punishment really is.

Very graphic

I bought this book because it covers the queens of England that lost their heads especially Lady Jane Grey. I find the book extremely graphic and I simply could not put it down in spite of myself. I read it from cover to cover after buying it yesterday. However this is not for the emotional and I can only say that I now feel traumatized by it. But I do not blame the book or the author for the subject matter is factual and historical. You shouldn't really sugarcoat it. The only negative comment I can offer about the book itself is that there are no real references to the beautiful art work that is used for some of the topics. Especially for the exquisite painting on the cover of Lady Jane Grey. I recommend this book but warn that it can get you very very upset.

Informative

This is a pretty good introduction to public executions. The book starts with Crucifixion before Jesus' time and ends with lethal injection. Eye witness accounts are provided of executions ranging from hanging, drawing and quartering (both while the victim was alive and if the victim was lucky enough to be dead before the drawing and quartering), burning, beheading, etc. This book draws important distinctions (class-wise and dying-wise) between the long drop- and the short drop- methods of hanging, being beheaded by a sword and by the axe, being guillotined or being hanged. Nigel Cawthorne also illuminates the many reasons people were executed - ranging from stealing a coin to regicide. Although this obviously wasn't a focus of his book, I found it interesting to see the "progression" of societal attitudes towards public death. The illustrations in this book provide nice visual aids. I think the book would have been better if more original illustrations were used instead of what appear to be pictures drawn for this book's purpose. I found "Public Executions" to be very interesting and informative. But I wouldn't recommend it if you're squeamish or offend easily.