January 20, 2009

A Short Introduction to the Fine Art of Execution!

hanging-001

A gem of a find today! First published in 1928, this being the definitive edition, published in 1954. I was particularly taken with the fact that it is apparently, All very proper to be read and kept in every family.

Dedicated respectfully to The Hangmen of England and to similar Constitutional Bulwarks everywhere.

posted by in advice, books, crime | * | 12 comments 

comments

  1. M Sarki on January 20th, 2009 at 5:53 pm

    May I borrow it when you’re done with it?

  2. Sheila Ryan on January 20th, 2009 at 6:01 pm

    A Ready Reckoner for Hangmen, eh? Weights and measures, I expect.

  3. Phil Bebbington on January 20th, 2009 at 6:04 pm

    The appendix does have a Ready Reckoner where if you have the weight of the person to be hanged it will calculate the drop required to do the job! After all, you don’t want to be left with some wriggling body on the floor do you?

  4. Phil Bebbington on January 20th, 2009 at 6:09 pm

    Sheer Beauty of Hanging
    The beauty of hanging is recognized by its effects on the mind, just as the beauty of a Velasquez painting is recognized in the same way; and we must be content to leave it at that.

  5. Matt on January 20th, 2009 at 6:20 pm

    This version has an intro by Christopher Hitchens:

    http://www.amazon.com/Handbook-Hanging-Review-Books-Classics/dp/0940322676/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1232497163&sr=8-1

  6. Phil Bebbington on January 20th, 2009 at 7:04 pm

    Thanks, Matt, the version I have just has a preface by the author, Charles Duff.

  7. Cooper Renner on January 20th, 2009 at 10:25 pm

    My family wore its copy out while I was still in diapers.

  8. Pavel Kohout | Katyně (The Hangwoman) : clusterflock on January 21st, 2009 at 2:00 am

    [...] Walken’s post concerning A Short Introduction to the Fine Art of Execution! set me to [...]

  9. Phil Bebbington on January 21st, 2009 at 3:19 am

    Cooper, I guess you must have had the infamous ‘Drop Chart’ memorised?

  10. Michael Grant Smith on January 21st, 2009 at 6:43 am

    Kids today, with all their gaming and virtual executin’, they don’t appreciate the old ways.

  11. Phil Bebbington on January 21st, 2009 at 10:17 am

    I know, Michael – when it was done with a rope you knew it was done for good. I guess that little crack of the neck was a good sign as well!

  12. raynor on January 21st, 2009 at 12:44 pm

    next book club selection. could you imagine the skypecast?

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