Women and the Death Penalty in the United States, 1900-1998 [Hardcover]

Kathleen O'Shea (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 027595952X | ISBN-13: 978-0275959524 | Publication Date: February 28, 1999

Using a historical framework, this book offers not only the penal history of the death penalty in the states that have given women the death penalty, but it also retells the stories of the women who have been executed and those currently awaiting their fate on death row.

This work takes a historical look at women and the death penalty in the United States from 1900 to 1998. It gives the reader a look at the penal codes in the various states regarding the death penalty and the personal stories of women who have been executed or who are currently on death row. As Americans continue to debate the enforcement of the death penalty, the issues of race and gender as they relate to the death penalty are also debated. This book offers a unique perspective to a recurring sociopolitical issue.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Highly recommended for general readers, undergraduates, and above." -- Choice

Book Description

Offers not only the penal history of the death penalty in the states that have sentenced women to death, but it also tells the stories of the women who have been executed, or are currently awaiting their faith on death row.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 432 pages
• Publisher: Praeger (February 28, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 027595952X
• ISBN-13: 978-0275959524
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.5 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,684,911 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An important source, April 5, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Women and the Death Penalty in the United States, 1900-1998 (Hardcover)

Eschewing sensationalism, O'Shea has provided a state-by-state review of women and the death penalty in the last century. While it may not be as easy to read as books such as WOMEN WHO KILL because it does not have an overarching narrative, it does provide the stories and information. I am assigining it in a law school course I teach WOMEN & CRIME. I'd recommend it for all those who are serious about this issue.

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow, excellent reference for students of crime, women, or/and the death penalty!, November 14, 2010

By 

J. Koceja - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Women and the Death Penalty in the United States, 1900-1998 (Hardcover)

This hefty tome would make a wonderful addition to any student's library. I spotted it on Amazon, and could not afford the hefty price and checked it out at my university. It blew me away, and even though it is a reference book, read it from cover to cover in a weekend. I couldn't put it down, and lost plenty of sleep.

It is a reference book of every women put to death and/or on death row since 1900. It includes women whose sentences were commuted. It explains every case in analytical non-emotional language. It is very scholarly. It includes a section on lynching.
It is divided, alphabetically, by state and begins each section with an introduction on the history, methods, and customs of each states death penalty and mode of execution.
Each woman has a story, and the author has included as much of the story as space could permit. Some accounts are more sparse than others (esp from the turn of the century) but where she could, she has included news accounts, and even the women's own letters and confessions.
It's an awesome, awesome read. I would recommend it to anyone who is writing a paper, book, or just is interested in this facet of American society.