Pictures at an Execution : An Inquiry into the Subject of Murder

by Wendy Lesser

An investigation of society's attitude toward murder, both in art and in real life, recounts a famous legal case in which a federal court judge had to decide whether a gas-chamber execution would be broadcast on public television.

Genres: Philosophy, Cultural, Nonfiction

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Wendy Lesser a critic, novelist, and editor based in Berkeley, California.

She is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and has received fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, National Endowment for the Humanities, and the New York Public Library's Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers.

Reviews

[K Elle · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's hard to describe what this book is actually about. Yes, the KQED/Robert Alton Harris story is in there, but there's more literary criticism than anything else. To be honest, I found the literary criticism more interesting than the Harris story. But it was difficult to plod through at times and a bit disjointed overall. Definitely average or above, just not fantastic.

[Janet Edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was kind of a hats book to read. Interesting and thought provoking but a difficult subject matter.