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22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Very Dark Side of Human Imagination, July 7, 2006
This review is from: Execution: The Guillotine, the Pendulum, the Thousand Cuts, the Spanish Donkey, and 66 Other Ways of Putting Someone to Death (Hardcover)
In this excellent work, the author makes the statement that "... [the human] ability to conjure up methods of torture and death is .... infinite". Indeed, after reading this book, one cannot agree with him more. In a rich and most elegant (and often tongue-in-cheek) prose, the author clearly describes in excess of 69 ways used throughout history to officially execute human beings, frequently with various accompanying methods of torture. These execution methods are presented in alphabetical, as opposed to chronological, order; hence, the book can be read all at once or in dribs and drabs without any loss of continuity. The descriptions are agonizingly detailed and, well, quite colorful. In many cases, several fascinating anecdotes are provided to further enrich the reader's reading experience; these include personal information on some of the executioners and their many clients, the nature of the crimes committed and the attitudes of the attending crowds - all this weaved in the backdrop of the times in which these people lived (and died). This well-written book should be of interest, not only to those interested in the gory, the horrific and the macabre, but also to ordinary history buffs.
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16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Macabre reading, April 11, 2006
This review is from: Execution: The Guillotine, the Pendulum, the Thousand Cuts, the Spanish Donkey, and 66 Other Ways of Putting Someone to Death (Hardcover)
Over the course of over ten books, Geoffrey Abbott has developed a reputation for covering topics of "medieval" (in the Pulp Fiction sense) violence. This book will not disappoint anyone looking to jar themselves with a little bit of cruelty.
In his introduction, Abbott supposes that technological advancements have only occured as means of Man inflincting cruelty upon other Men. Strangely, the book does not progress in chronological order - a strategy that would likely fortify his claim - rather, it progresses alphabetically. Nevertheless...Abbott succeeds in bringing information to the reader in colorful ways - the descriptions of the methods of torture are most powerful. Some of the methods are well-known and apparently obvious (though more often than not, the book clarifies on various myths), as well as some more obscure (my favorite excerpt is "Cauldron," something which I had never even heard of before).
The book struggles significantly with pacing. For example, its a little bit frustrating when the first chapter, "Axe," reaches almost 20 pages in length - fine for about four pages before it begins too get too anecdotal, in a sense - while the following chapter, "Bastinado," is barely a page in length. It would have been nice for the lesser-known methods to be elaborated on the same way that "Axe" (or "Guillotine" or "Hanging" alike) are.
Other than that complaint, Execution is certainly a fun read, for fans of the curiously grotesque. The writing is direct and its especially interesting to read excerpts from old texts to give yourself a taste of the way people spoke regarding these issues. Abbott's writing is generally serious but every now and then contributes a very dryly humorous voice. Certain entries shine more brightly than others, but, as Abbott might report the firing squad to admit, "You can't hit them all." For the most part, however, Execution is an extremely enjoyable read for anyone interested in violence through the ages.
...Oh, and this is definitely a great social contribution for parties.
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
history buffs will appreciate this deep look at the darker side of societies, May 3, 2006
This review is from: Execution: The Guillotine, the Pendulum, the Thousand Cuts, the Spanish Donkey, and 66 Other Ways of Putting Someone to Death (Hardcover)
Surprisingly considering the topic of historical references to torture and execution techniques, this tome is a enthralling well written look at how it was applied in western society over the centuries. The book is arranged in alphabetical order with the sizes of each entry varying based on available information and to a degree frequency of usage. The fascination is typically with the smaller sized less known entries. Though more information is valuable on the "popular" techniques such as Madame Guillotine, lethal injection, or hanging, the methods that most people have never heard of like being sewn inside an animal's stomach, the Spanish Donkey or Flayed alive, etc., which are relatively one or two paragraphs are the ones that hook the audience. Though the Guantomino crowd might insist this book is barbaric, history buffs will appreciate this deep look at the darker side of governments and societies.
Harriet Klausner
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