Product Description

In this book, the author of 'True Crime Diary' and other popular crime book presents a vivid and shocking study of men entrusted with the ghastly duty of carrying out public executions. Individual hangmen whose careers are explored in this gruesome history include: Gregory Brandon, John Ketch, John Price, John Thrift and William Curry. Despite its many horrors, this book offers a fascinating gallery of outlandish figures, full of authentic details from contemporary sources of information. No serious student of crime will want to miss it; no connoisseur of the macabre will want to part with it.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #711734 in Books
• Published on: 2001-12-13
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 202 pages

Lancaster Guardian, December 21, 2001
relies on solid research and good writing..packed full of interesting facts. accounts are graphic and not for the faint-hearted. Well illustrated throughout

From the Publisher
THE COMMON HANGMAN
by James Bland

Colour covers, heavily illustrated and over 200 pages long, it details the horrific & often sordid lives of English and Scottish Hangmen from our earliest records to the end of public hangings. The hangman not only executed felons by many gruesome methods he also tortured his victims in many cases. Actual hangings are described from the famous to petty thieves, many being botched to the huge distress of victim and watching crowds. Often performing whilst drunk, the hangman may himself have been a murderer, wife beater or petty thief. Most areas of England and Scotland each had their own hangmen (it wasnt only carried out at Tyburn), James Bland looks at a number of these local hangmen - perhaps from your locality! The lives of London hangmen like Jack Ketch and Gregory Brandon are also revealed. Hangmen from many towns and cities are covered b ut London, Edinburg, Glasgow and York are featured strongly.We are sure any true crime reader will appreciate this authoritative and well researched book by an established best selling true crime author.

Lancaster Guardian states " relies on solid research and good writing ...packed full of interesting facts ... accounts are graphic and not for the faint-hearted. Well illustrated throughout"

James Bland is a best selling true crime author of True Crime Diary 1 & 2, and Crimes Strange But True (published by Warner Books) and other works.

About the Author
James Bland