How the Hangman Lost His Heart

by K.M. Grant

What's a nice girl like Alice doing with a hangman called Dan Skinslicer?
He likes a good clean killing and a hearty supper afterwards.
She likes pretty dresses and riding a well-bred horse.
But fate throws them together on a mission of mercy--to save Alice's poor uncle Frank's head and restore his dignity.
Soon they find themselves on the run from every soldier in London.
It could be their necks next!

Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Romance, Historical, Teen, Fantasy, Humor

256 pages, Hardcover

First published May 4, 2006

About the author

K. M. GRANT was inspired by her own family history to write How the Hangman Lost His Heart. Her ancestor, Colonel Francis Towneley, or Uncle Frank, was the last man in Britain to by hanged, drawn, and quartered. His head was passed down for generations of her family until it was finally reunited with his body just after World War II, when it was buried at St. Peter’s Church. It was Uncle Frank’s colorful legacy that showed her how exciting history could be. K. M. Grant is also the author of the de Granville Trilogy. She lives in Scotland and works as a broadcaster and journalist.

She has recently published her first novel for adults as Katharine Grant. The separate name is to ensure the distinction between works appropriate for young audiences and works with adult material. For more information, see The History Girls: Naming myself, by Katharine Grant.

Reviews

[Hazel West · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoughts on the Overall Book: Where to begin? I absolutely LOVED this book. The story, the characters, the writing was just all so good that there was nothing not to like! I believe the author wrote it from an actual story, so that just makes it all the more amazing and hilarious. Truthfully, I don't really know what else to say about it.

Cover--Yea or Nay: I like this cover, actually better than the one on the copy I have which I'm not very fond of. This one is very simple though, and I like it.

Characters: Well, to start off, Alice is a lovely heroine. I loved her because she is witty, she never let anything get in her way, but she was also sympathetic, and at the times she could have been annoying, it was more that she was acting like a real person would and not like an annoying character. Dan Skinslicer was also a very lovable character. I just love the thought of a soft-hearted hangman who just viewed it as a job. I don't know if there were really men like that, but I hope there were. Hew Ffrench was an awesome character too and I liked him immediately. Major Slavering was a very good villain. Meaning, of course, that he was utterly terrible. I also loved a lot of the supporting characters, especially Alice's grandmother. Oh yes, and of course, Uncle Frank's head!

Writing Style: Wonderful. It was witty, it was fast paced, and just fit the story sooo well. This whole story appealed to my, rather dark, sense of humor (gallow's wit, pardon the pun) perfectly.

Problems/What bothered me: Nothing at all it was perfect.

Conclusion: 5 stars, I would not have thought of giving it anything different. Definitely one of the best books I've read this year and a lovely read for my vacation where I promised to immerse myself in all the books I have had waiting on my shelf for a while.

Recommended Audience: Any historical fiction fans should definitely read it. I don't care what time period you like, this is a must read. Both a guy and girl read, ages 12 and up.

[Ifigenia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lo primero sea dicho, empecé este libro, porque quería desconectar y tenía entendido que era un libro corto, absurdo y divertido (ilusa de mí). Puede que leerlo para desconectar de lenguaje soez, de bullying, de pederastia y de libros que te cuentan que a los niños les quitan los dientes para que puedan hacer mejor las mamadas (demasiada información para vosotros, ¡¡pues imaginaros para mí!! Menos mal que a partir de ahora el factor pederastia ha disminuido bastante en déjame entrar) no ayudase mucho en mi apreciación del libro, así que a partir de ahora va mi opinión a secas, sin conservantes ni colorantes.

Con un estilo demasiado descriptivo para mi gusto (con demasiadas marranadas por allí y allá, demasiada sangre, escupitajos, vísceras, sobre todo al principio) que no me ha gustado mucho; con unos personajes a cada cual más raro y estrambótico (a los que no he apreciado en la medida de lo posible, puede ser porque pasar una página tras otra ya requería todo mi esfuerzo literario, en un intento por no quedarme dormida en el transcurso de la lectura). Pero puede que mis opiniones hubiesen cambiado si no hubiese esperado nada de nada del libro y/o no viniese de leerme otro con "demasiados detalles", lo que no hubiese cambiado es que el libro ha sido tan digerible como una piedra.


Ha habido un par de detalles del libro que sigo sin explicarme: por una parte no entiendo como la cabeza del tío Frank con tanto viaje por ahí y sin los beneficios de una nevera fría (dudo mucho de que la transportasen con freezers) se conserve tan bien y no empiece a oler tan mal que la delate en cualquier sitio en el que esté (eso no es muy creíble, pero claro, teniendo en cuenta que la cabeza de tío Frank es como un furby, de la que todo el mundo se encariña y no para de cambiar sus gestos dependiendo de lo que pase con quien esté, tal vez esos temas de la putrefacción no le afecten tanto) y por otra parte, no hablemos del flechazo entre Hew y Alice que no transcurre rápido, sino a la velocidad de la luz, casi ni se han visto y ya se han enamorado. Hew está dispuesto a hacer las locuras más locas por Alice (tiran más dos tetas que dos carretas) y Alice a comportarse como una damita y suspirar y suspirar y más suspirar por su guapísimo dueño (pero no os asustéis, el romance no es lo principal del libro). Mientras que Dan no hace de sujetavelas, sino de sujetacandelabros.


El libro está muy bien traducido, sí, no tiene erratas, sí, vienen bastantes explicaciones, pero... Lo siento, no me creo que un verdugo que no sabe ni leer ni escribir hable igual que una dama de alta cuna, de alta cama, que la única diferencia en el habla sea el "usté" (sin "d" del verdugo). Una diferencia mayor entre ellos hubiese sido lo ideal para sacarle un poco más de jugo al libro (por lo menos para mi gusto), no sé si me explico, palabras que emplease Alice que el verdugo no entendiese, o viceversa. No critico el comportamiento de marimacho de Alice ni sus rabietas ni sus ojitos, eso lo perdono, pero no lo otro.


En definitiva, un libro irónico a ratos (si sabéis inglés, fijaros en el significado de los nombres, Skinslicer, rebanador de piel, relacionados con su papel), con personajes estrambóticos y muy descriptivo que para mí ha sido más efectivo que unas pastillas para dormir.

[Bonnie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had higher hopes for this book - someone compared it to a slightly younger version of The Princess Bride. This comparison was not apt. The idea is that plucky Alice has come to her beloved Uncle Frank's hanging to collect his body and take it back home with her - only the head must remain as a sign to all traitors to not... well, commit treason. Alice steals her uncle's head and runs away with poor Dan Skinslicer, the local hangman, overall nice guy, and doormat. In the process of escaping from London (again and again and again), Alice gets mixed up with a dashing Capt. Ffrench (that's right, two f's!), who has fallen for Alice's blue eyes and ability to coax him down a ladder. To make matters worse, evil Major Slavering is out to catch Alice and anyone else he can say is guilty by association.

This book seems to fall somewhere between historical fiction and historical fantasy, but never quite decides where it wants to be. There are lots of historical elements that might intrigue someone who likes that sort of story, but Uncle Frank's head takes on a magical quality that allows it to wink at people he likes, grimace at others, and stay oddly fresh throughout the story. I think it would've really improved things if the author had chosen one genre and just gone whole hog.

The characters weren't well-developed, with the exception of maybe Dan Skinslicer. I had a hard time telling how old Alice was and assumed that Dan was much older than her. This became awkward when the two started to develop "feelings" about one another. I had the same problem with Capt. Ffrench. I never understood what was so appealing about Alice beyond her "cornflower blue" eyes. Alice and Dan seemed to constantly be escaping London and then finding a reason to wander back there, only to get chased out again. I wish this had been more funny, or more enjoyable, but after awhile, it just got dull.

More than anything, I was annoyed with the ending and who ends up with who. I know this story is somewhat based on family history, but it seemed like all signs pointed to a different sort of ending, and the author was determined to have it end in something resembling a fairy tale.

Skip this and go read The Princess Bride.

[Jenny · Rating 1 out of 5]

Alice can't stand the thought of Uncle Frank's head on a pike on Temple Bar after being executed for treason for supporting Bonnie Prince Charlie. She tries to steal his head and take it home to bury with his body, but the guard can't have that, so Captain Hew Ffrench is sent up to capture her. One look into her blue eyes and he is in love. Alice escapes with the captain's help and the help of the hangman who executed Uncle Frank. All the attempts to flee London with the head are thwarted and the three are put on trial for treason. Is there any hope for our friends?

The book sounded like it would be a funny romance, but it was way too morbid for my tastes.

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

My daughter wanted to check this out at the library, since it was in the YA section I decided to read it first. There is unnecessary language (d word) and a scene when adultery is laughed at. Why do we need these elements influencing young people?

[Janine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! The characters are great and I loved following them through the adventure! Really going to miss Dan the most 😊 Really funny story, witty writing, great plot and characters. Fab read!

[Stephanie Tang · Rating 2 out of 5]

General Overview: The premise of this book sounded interesting, but I wasn't sure how much I'd like it -- that's why I checked it out from the library. Unfortunately, How The Hangman Lost His Heart just didn't do it for me.

Characters: Okay, the thing is, I kind of liked the characters. I liked Alice's wit and stubbornness and I liked Dan's resolution and dedication. Sadly, I just never connected with either of them. I enjoyed their casual banter and easy relationship, and I liked the dialogue, especially the ones that involved the major and Ffrench, but I was never able to sympathize with any of them, particularly not Alice. I found that I was disappointed with these characters more often than I was happy with them.

Plot: This is supposed to be an adventure book, and while there are definitely some elements of action in here, sometimes the plot felt like it was moving too slowly for me and it got too repetitive! And, not to mention the fact that the inside flap synopsis is really quite misleading. Alice is definitely not the lady she's supposed to be, and Dan isn't as rough as the synopsis makes him seem. I thought the plot could have been more absorbing and more...well, adventurous! I had already predicted the entire storyline of the book from the first few chapters, and what do you know? I was right. That seriously disappointed me.

Writing: This is reasonably easy book to read. The writing doesn't have any amazing prose, nor is there a lyrical quality to the words, but it flowed. And I mean it really flowed! Some authors, even though their writing sounds beautiful, write with sentences that don't flow together! They seem very choppy sometimes, and I hate when that happens. However, K.M. Grant definitely writes with a certain ease that makes her books easy to read.

Cover: Hmm...I wouldn't say that this is an exceptional cover, the font confuses me a bit (why does it change?), I do like the background and the crows, even though they're not of much significance to the story. I don't think this cover fits the book at all, but it's a nice try.

Overall: 2 out of 5 stars

[Tessa Comley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alice's extraordinary story, of rescuing a head, surviving a court room, and having two lover both of which she loved back! This thrilling book is a real page turner! It ends so sadly when Dan must leave for how can you live when the one you love is loved and married to another? In the Epilogue when it tells you of Dan's death it is so touching, and heart warming! At the very end of the story it tells of how Uncle Frank's head was finally placed in the coffin with his body in 1970 (when the book was set in 1746!) his coffin contained another head. Wax or flesh? It does not say but this story is partially true. It was really touching with how they did every thing for love even though it was love that made it impossible to stay with each other! I would definitely recommend this story. My sister likes historical romances, it won't fall under what she likes but it falls close to the mark. A great read and also good for light reading. The langue is fairly difficult but once you get into it it is like your watching the happenings on TV or in a cinema. It would make a brilliant thrilling movie in my opinion. So, any budding directors, get reading!

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Started 5.10.10
Ended precisely on 5.15.10 at exactly 8:30 p.m.

Honestly? I loved it.
The twist at the end was amazing...in the back of my mind I was like..I hope they do the "switch" and of course they did =)
Dan skillfully executed the swtich of the dummy and Hew...with good precision...except the little mistake he made (;
I'm so happy that Alice ended up with Hew, I love Dan, but I wanted Alice with Hew...=)
I liked the fact that Uncle Frank's expresson changed according to the situation or person.
I liked how the author ended the book with what happened to everyone when they died...or whatever.
Overall I loved the characters and everything that occurred, it was a skillfuly written book which I enjoyed immensely. =)

[Bad · Rating 1 out of 5]

What a pooey, POOEY bunch of rubbish! I guess there is something to be said for the author dragging me through this novel in it's entirety... But beyond that it was poorly written, the main character, Alice, was a complete self-centered B**ch, and the amount of drama/peril was nauseating. The only character I enjoyed throughout the story was Uncle Frank (aka, the head). I loved the personality Grant put into the the severed head of Alice's beloved Uncle.

[Lara Vehar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book years ago because I randomly found it in the library. I would pick it up again and again - and never get bored of it - so I finally decided to buy it for good so I can reread it whenever I want and ... It didn't get boring or stale after all these years, I still enjoyed it just as much as I enjoyed it the first time I read it.

The humor can be dark and witty if it wants to be, the names still crack me up, the story is a great one, it's a great book that never gets old.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

i absolutely LOVED this book. I recomed this to ANYONE: boy, girl, Comedy lover, tragedy fan, theres a little bit of everything in this book. adventure, romance, TRUE STORY! definetly one of the best books ive read! Im going to suggest this for next years caudill list!!!

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very quirky, light-hearted story about rescuing a severed head. I couldn't get into it personally, and skipped most of the middle, but I think I just wasn't in the mood.

[Virginia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Escrita en forma de cuento, Tres corazones, dos cabezas y un verdugo, es una aventura original y divertida, que engancha desde la primera frase.

Confieso que nunca había oído hablar de la autora, K. M. Grant, que entra el mundo de la escritura de la mano de este libro. Al ser su opera prima y, además, una novela juvenil, esperaba el típico estilo simplista, propio de este género. Pero, me he llevado una grata sorpresa. El libro está bien escrito, con una prosa ágil y dinámica, un lenguaje correcto y unas descripciones bastante buenas, además de unos personajes verosímiles y coherentes, algo difícil de conseguir en este tipo de libros.

Tres corazones, dos cabezas y un verdugo, cuenta la disparatada aventura de Alice y su tío Frank. O, más bien, la cabeza del tío Frank. Y es que, después de ser ejecutado por traición, desmembrado y puesta su cabeza en una pica para su exhibición, Alice decide que debe recuperar la cabeza y enterrarla junto al cuerpo, para darle descanso eterno. En esta aventura la acompañará Dan, el amable verdugo, y el capitán Ffrench, que acaba enamorado de ella. A partir de ahí, se desarrollan una serie de delirantes aventuras, que no dejan descansar en momento alguno al lector.

El desenlace del libro es amargo como la vida misma. Algo que vuelve a extrañar tratándose de un libro dirigido al público juvenil. Pero, por eso mismo, resulta bonito y, sobre todo, creíble. Tanto es así, que no te asombra saber que, en realidad, la historia es verdad a medias y, que la autora, tuvo de verdad un tío Frank que fue ejecutado y, cuya cabeza, apareció mucho tiempo después.

En suma, Tres corazones, dos cabezas y un verdugo, es una novela perfecta para cualquier tipo de público. Es de corta duración, amena y con un punto oscuro que hace que su lectura constituya una novedad, dentro de los cuentos.

[Chelse · Rating 1 out of 5]

What a gruesome little book.

I was given this book back when I was a child in school by the author when she came to give a lecture. It has sat on my bookshelf ever since, travelling from home to home, hoping to be read.

Well, my husband and I finally read it together, out loud, and we hated almost every moment of it.

The plot runs around in circles, the dialogue is tedious, and the details seem far too macabre for a children’s book.

I wouldn’t recommend this to anyone. My husband suggested we bury it instead of donate.

[Ayrildi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Una hermosa historia con personajes que se sienten tan reales. Dan fue mi personaje favorito, creo que es el único con sentimientos nobles, que hizo todo sin esperar nunca nada a cambio. En cuanto a Alice había veces que me caía mal porque era egoísta y poco empática, pero se entiende que eso la hizo más humana.

[Emma Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has a very specific feel to it, reminiscent of "The Princess Bride," but for a much younger audience. The story being told as a "historical" situation is one seen off and on in the media, but this was done very well. A cute read and very lighthearted for a story about an executioner and a girl stealing a severed head.

[Mars G. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really fun book, recommended to me by a very dear friend. They had originally read it at age 12 and I think that is about the perfect age for a book like this. It was funny and charming and enjoyable to read in a few hours.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved Grant's de Granville trilogy (the two-thirds of it I read, anyway), and so read this as a kid as a result. Can't quite remember much about it though, so it gets 3 stars for nostalgia.

[Marissa Ziemba · Rating 2 out of 5]

it was a good book about adventure but it was not the type of book i like to read.

[Alejandro Villa · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was okay I didn't really like it cause it was really confusing because she hated the hangman and she was all interested in him but it wasn't bad.

[Kirin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Made me cry so hard...

[Bleu · Rating 4 out of 5]

An adventurous farce... about a severe head... and an emotional executioner... Loved it!

[Yuli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pues la trama estaba buena, lo que no me gustó fue que no le dieran mucha profundidad al personaje de Hew, pero en si el libro es bueno yo le doy un 4.6

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alice is heartbroken when her brave Uncle Frank is executed as a traitor after the Battle of Culloden and his head, mounted on a pike, is displayed as a warning to others about the price of rebellion. Her plan to rescue his head and return it to his home to rejoin the rest of his body, draws the executioner, Dan Skinslicer, and a soldier, Captain Ffrench, into unexpected trouble.

Funnier than it sounds and surprisingly touching in a few places. I enjoyed it!

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

O.O
=O
-.-


The plot of this book goes something like this:
A spoiled girl's uncle gets his head chopped off for rebellion and his niece, after picking up the body, decides, for some inexplicable reason that is never fully explained, that she must rescue his head, currently being displayed on a pole for the general view of the public.
Instead of doing something sensible, she decides to steal his head in the middle of the day, with everyone watching.
Apparently, stealing a criminal's head is a capitol offense.
Soldiers show up, she bats her eyelashes at one and he falls head-over-heals for her, the evil captain tries to kill her, and for some reason that is also never satisfactorily explained, the hangman from her uncle's execution happens to be in the area and he helps her escape.
On the run they go, the hangman, the spoiled girl, and the head...in an adventure that mostly consist of them running into soldiers, losing the head, escaping from soldiers, finding the head, running into soldiers again, losing the head, escaping from soldiers....
You get the idea.
And that is pretty much the plot except for a messy love-triangle thrown in.

Alice, the spoiled girl, is senseless, almost remorseless, and apparently every guy who comes within a few miles falls for her.
Lovely isn't it?
She lives with the most eccentric and unlikely relatives: a grandma who is always covered in wig powder, a WAY to hormonal aunt who flirts with anything in breeches, a Father whose obsession with rain is truly scary, and a Mother who constantly thinks of cheese.
Yeah.
The book was sort of....pointless. You don't even get much of the "historical fiction" element. Its like a bunch of characters running hither and thither in London, trying to rescue a head that was better off where it was >.<
The plot is almost childish, yet written dumb enough for teenagers. The writing is unexceptional. I was slightly reminded of Petronella Saves Nearly Everyone: The Entomological Tales of Augustus T. Percival except I must admit, I found Petronella -weird name and all - to be more amusing.
It isn't that I wouldn't recommend this book as much as I don't find much of a point in doing it. It is tolerably amusing; the title is probably the best part.
Take it or leave it, it is a shrug book. Not really worth it.

[El Templo]

"Alice sabe que se está metiendo en un lío, pero no puede dejar la cabeza del tío Frank colgando de una pica en Temple Bar. Va a conseguir enterrarla con el resto de su cuerpo, aunque ello suponga una alocada huida por las calles de Londres con la cabeza de su tío rebotando esperpénticamente dentro del saco y con el mayor Slavering y sus soldados pisándole los talones. Por suerte, cuenta con la ayuda de Dan Skinslicer, el verdugo, y de el apuesto capitán Ffrench, que no dudarán en arriesgar su vida por Alice. ¿Habrán perdido ellos también la cabeza? Tres corazones, dos cabezas y un verdugo es una historia de aventuras muy original que se ríe de la muerte y de las paradojas de la vida. K. M. Grant nos traslada a un Londres del siglo XVIII magníficamente ambientado, tanto en lo que se refiere a las descripciones de la ciudad como al comportamiento de los protagonistas. Todos los personajes, principales o secundarios, están muy bien dibujados y tienen personalidades muy interesantes. Por desgracia, la historia se desarrolla de manera precipitada: la acción coge al lector desprevenido y lo que parecía una introducción, acaba siendo la trama principal de la novela. En cierto sentido da la sensación de que la autora empieza con mucha ilusión y de pronto se ve limitada por su propia historia y la situación en la que ha puesto a sus personajes. Tal vez el problema sea que la preciosa portada española, el título (que puede llevar a error) y el resumen de la parte de atrás prometen un libro más emocionante. ---> Sigue leyendo en http://www.eltemplodelasmilpuertas.com"

[Lady Knight · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alice loves Uncle Frank. So much so that she is the only one of her family to attend his execution in London. She is understandably upset when she learns that her uncle's head is to be put on display instead of rightly buried with his body. Alice is determined to get Uncle Frank's head into his coffin, no matter what the cost. So begins the tale of a semi-dead head (it still can make faces...), a strong-willed girl, an executioner, and a soldier with a fear of heights and soft spot for cornflower blue eyes.
I love K.M. Grant. I love her work and for that reason I picked up this book. I was rather intrigued by the book, well aware of the comic possibilities it presented. Although the book did come through for me, as far as comedic elements go, I still felt that the book could have been so much more. Also, the title, I feel, is misleading. Although Dan Skinslicer does come to love Alice, he is already married and it is not THAT kind of love. Hew Ffrench (yes that's right two effs) on the other hand does come to love Alice in THAT way.
Overall an amusing story that could have been so much more.
For better examples of K.M. Grant's TRUE talent, check out my recommended reads.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like many who read this book, I'd heard rave reviews and ultimately found that the book did not quite live up to the hype. The book's official description is even a little misleading. Our heroine (of sorts) Alice might be from a good family but she's hardly a nice girl. Her mission--to rescue her uncle's head from a pike and bury him properly is noble in its way but her methods--and the way she bulldozes everyone in her path--are ruthless, and overall she's a very very hard character to like. There's a fair attempt at humor here, but Alice's galling self-centeredness tends to detract from that more often than not. The fact that the title references Dan Skinslicer, the Hangman tells you almost everything you need to know. The real star of the story is him. Unfortunately, he gets kind of a raw deal throughout while Alice, and the milquetoast Captain Ffrench reaping the majority of the reward. Readers who like Catherine Called Birdy may find it somewhat entertaining, but overall it's bound to frustrate many readers.

[Heather]

I absolutely loved the voice in this book when I started. Distasteful as the subject matter may be, the narrator didn't shy away from it and instead embraced it in a practical way that felt right for the era.

Unfortunately I couldn't finish past a handful of pages because of one very big flaw the book-flap neglected to warn me about. No, not the love triangle (though I am so very tired of them). The fact that the hangman in question is married and does not lose his heart to his wife, but someone else entirely. From what I skimmed of the rest of the beginning it seems he leaves her fairly casually once he and Alice end up on the run, saying her cooking wasn't anything great and mixing her up in his new troubles wouldn't be fair to her. I sincerely hope that's the last the book ever sees of the wife (a demonization of her would feel crass given the circumstances) but I wasn't in any mood to find out, nor was I up for a couple hundred pages of watching a married man fall in love with someone else even if he isn't the one who ends up with her in the end