The British Execution: 1500-1964

by Stephen Banks

If life is a drama, then for some men and women their most noteworthy moment on the stage has been at their unwilling exit. If Anne Boleyn's memory lives on it is because her head was lost, and the same fate ensures Charles I a place unique among English monarchs. The formal and deliberate taking of life has always aroused a fascination in those who have crowded in upon the scaffold or devoured the reports of dying speeches and dying moments, and provokes a morbid curiosity to this day. In this study of execution and the English experience, Stephen Banks examines the fate of witches, gentlemen traitors and learned heretics whose names have long been remembered, but he also considers the victim of the majority of executions - from poor wretches who had stolen a few shillings, to hardened criminals who met the same end. If the manner of death and the fortitude with which it was met varied, still the audience never tired of pushing and paying for the performance. As this perceptive study shows, execution holds an important place in cultural and social history and its anecdotes and its atrocities offer novel insights into the nature of the English in the age of execution.

Genres: History, British Literature

56 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2013

Reviews

[Garry Marlton · Rating 4 out of 5]

it was a nice overview but not to in-depth

[Ubiquitousbastard · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, this wasn't fantastically written, but it's a decent overview of the subject. I honestly didn't care much for the post-Victorian Era parts, since I don't have a huge interest in modern history, but I can see why the author chose to include the time leading up to the abolition of the death penalty.

I really only wanted to read this because I was morbidly curious about what happened to the bodies of people who were drawn and quartered and had their parts displayed around London. Although there is only one slight reference to a head being thrown in the Thames, that matches up with my guess as to what happened, so I pretty much found what I was looking for.

There were also several unrelated facts that I found interesting and would not have considered beforehand, so I also learned some new things, which I always appreciate.

It seems that Banks was mostly interested in English Civil War and Restoration Era executions, and I suppose that could also make sense since there was such upheaval at those times.

[Liselotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one! It was very informative and had some really nice illustrations throughout, like Shire Library books. I wish they would go more in depth about how bad hanging actually was (I mean, people's bodies split in TWO because of it sometimes, like??? That doesn't sound like a good death does it?) but there's only so much information you can cram into about 60 pages book. All in all, I do recommend it if you want to have a basic course on executions!

[Aileen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short Shire book giving the history of the methods of executions used in this country. Some copied from other countries. Illustrated mostly by gruesome woodcuts and drawings, but ending with a photograph of Ruth Ellis. Some interesting facts and figures included.

[Kayleigh Hunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting read

[Roger Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good summary of executions in Great Britain.