Publication Date:March 28, 2008 Availability:Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days Shipping:International shipping available Condition:Brand New. Shipped from UK Mainland. Delivery is usually 3 - 4 working days from order by Royal Mail, International Delivery is by Airmail.
FascinatingApril 21, 2008 John(USA) 4 out of 4 found this review helpful
This book is very interesting to read and gives a lot of information on different forms of punishment throughout the centuries. It is a gruesome read at times but fascinating nevertheless. Irene Thompson's has a background in journalism which makes her style is very readable.
Good ReadApril 22, 2008 Ken S. (E.Sussex) 4 out of 4 found this review helpful
A riveting chronicle of punishment, torture and pain down the ages -- though not a book for bedtime! Irene T. also explodes a few myths. It's unlikely sailors ever had to walk the plank (they were probably just tossed overboard), while in England few witches were burned alive at the stake. They hanged or strangled them first. And lifelong imprisonment wasn't without its comforts: one fellow kept in Newgate prison without trial for nearly 50 years managed to have a wife who gave him children -- all ten of them born in his cell. A relief to learn, too, that eucalyptus oil works best if you've just been tarred and feathered. Well-written by an accomplished journalist, it's a good read.
