| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Trade In this Item for up to £0.80
Trade in Executioner Pierrepoint: An Autobiography for an Amazon.co.uk gift card of up to £0.80, which you can then spend on millions of items across the site. Plus, get an extra £5 when you trade in books worth £10 or more until June 30, 2012. Trade-in values may vary (terms apply). Find more products eligible for trade-in.
|
Frequently Bought Together
Product details
|
More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
Alvert Pierrepoint resigned in 1956 over a disagreement with the Home Office about his fees. He was the only executioner in British history whose notice of resignation prompted the government to write to him begging him to reconsider, such was the reputation he had established as the most efficient and swiftest executioner in British history. What is true is that, ironically, he was an opponent of capital punishment. But Pierrepoint kept his opinions to himself on the topic until this autobiography: "I have come to the conclusion that executions solve nothing, and are only an antiquated relic of a primitive desire for revenge which takes the easy way and hands over the responsibility for revenge to other people...The trouble with the death penalty has always been that nobody wanted it for everybody, but everybody differed about who should get off."
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
About the Author
From 1931 until his resignation in 1956, following in the footsteps of his father and uncle, Albert Pierrepoint held the position of Official Executioner. During his career he carried out over 400 executions. This is his story which explores his travels, teachings, methods and colleagues.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
51 of 52 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
A lot of this book does concentrate on Pierrepoints home life and how he came to get such a strange job. He started out as executioners assistant to his uncle before taking over himself.
For obvious reasons He declines to go into depth with any specific cases unless he has prior permission from the families involved, then usually only to clear up a popular misconception.
He does however go into the technicalities of being a hangman and the procedures involved.
I found this book quite fascinating, and would reccomend it to anyone who is interested in this particular subject.
86 of 90 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I have bought four copies of this book at various times, all because I have lent my copy to someone who has not returned it.
It is an absolutely fascinating autobiography of Albert Pierrepoint, who was a hangman for more than 25 years(No 1 for many years) in both Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland. In that time he hanged hundreds of people, including the officers from Belsen Camp and many of the Gestapo officers who murdered the RAF officers who took part in The Great Escape.
Mr Pierrepoint dispels many of the myths which still abound regarding the secrets of the execution chamber and the death cell, including the fact that he could, and frequently did, carry out an execution in just EIGHT SECONDS from entering the condemned cell to the prisoner being dead.
He also reveals the fact that he resigned from his post because he concluded that execution solved nothing and was not a deterrent to murder.
"In all that I did", he writes, "I do not now believe that I prevented a single murder"
Anyone who is interested in this aspect of the judicial system MUST read this book - as also must anyone who is interested in the Capital Punishment debate
It is an absolutely fascinating autobiography of Albert Pierrepoint, who was a hangman for more than 25 years(No 1 for many years) in both Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland. In that time he hanged hundreds of people, including the officers from Belsen Camp and many of the Gestapo officers who murdered the RAF officers who took part in The Great Escape.
Mr Pierrepoint dispels many of the myths which still abound regarding the secrets of the execution chamber and the death cell, including the fact that he could, and frequently did, carry out an execution in just EIGHT SECONDS from entering the condemned cell to the prisoner being dead.
He also reveals the fact that he resigned from his post because he concluded that execution solved nothing and was not a deterrent to murder.
"In all that I did", he writes, "I do not now believe that I prevented a single murder"
Anyone who is interested in this aspect of the judicial system MUST read this book - as also must anyone who is interested in the Capital Punishment debate
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I must have bought four copies of this as it gets borrowed and never comes back!
Albert Pierrepoint was the last in a dynasty of executioners. As such he wrote a book that is a record of his early life and immediate family history that is couched in the language of the working class man who considers himself the upholder of dignity and standards. This comes across strongly in his references to his work. Albert was very much a man of his time and considered executioner to be a post which carried a great deal of both importance and the need to be dignified at all times.
He pointedly refused to be swept up in the rights or wrongs of any case that ended up before him. To him a condemned prisoner was to suffer death and pay for their crime, and after the act would have wiped their slate with society. As such he would always act completely dispassionately and insist that the executed man or woman be treated with respect.
This straightforward and fastidious man writes in just that style. Expect no horror, Albert tells his story in those dignified and restrained tones that set him as a 1930s man with an extraordinary sideline in life.
Albert Pierrepoint was the last in a dynasty of executioners. As such he wrote a book that is a record of his early life and immediate family history that is couched in the language of the working class man who considers himself the upholder of dignity and standards. This comes across strongly in his references to his work. Albert was very much a man of his time and considered executioner to be a post which carried a great deal of both importance and the need to be dignified at all times.
He pointedly refused to be swept up in the rights or wrongs of any case that ended up before him. To him a condemned prisoner was to suffer death and pay for their crime, and after the act would have wiped their slate with society. As such he would always act completely dispassionately and insist that the executed man or woman be treated with respect.
This straightforward and fastidious man writes in just that style. Expect no horror, Albert tells his story in those dignified and restrained tones that set him as a 1930s man with an extraordinary sideline in life.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
The States Executioner Tells Almost All
The story of The States Executioner in his own words, this is the man who executed the most notorious British and Irish murderers of the 20th century, also including the Nazis war... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Tony
pierpoint
I bought it for a friend who thought it was hard going reading it didnt understsnd why he changed the names of charachters in the book
Published 6 months ago by laney
A Fascinating Piece of Social History.
When he began writing this book, AP was aware that he was writing a piece of social history, and now, over 30 years later, it's even more so. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Jikky
Important evidence in the debate
As I write the debate on capital punishment is due to be reopened - yet again. Anyone who seeks to have an opinion on the subject - whether in favour or vehemently opposed - should... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Peasant
Executioner Pierrepoint: An Autobiography
I bought this for my Husband for Christmas and although it is hard reading, (the type is a little small), he is thoroughly enjoying reading it.
Published 16 months ago by Mrs. Carol J. Gamblin
Excellent
Isn't it somewhat disturbing how we all have a facination with the macabre? This book sheds light on the life and mind of a man who for 30 years undertook a task that most of us... Read more
Published 18 months ago by Hoggman
executioner; pierrpoint
Gruesome and clinical but factual. I had to read this for a project but would not voluntarily.
Published 20 months ago by Helen Carty
Capital Punishment
Many people do not agree with 'an eye for and eye' approach, but in some cases in our history it is (in my opinion) entirely warranted. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Norice Millen
biography
An excellent view into the mind of the State Executioner.
I hope, as he does, there is not another needed.
I hope, as he does, there is not another needed.
Published 21 months ago by doug
EXCELLENT READ
HAVE HAD THIS BOOK BEFORE, BUT IT WAS LOST TO SOMEONE WHO BORROWED IT.
GOOD READ, MOST INTERESTING.
GOOD READ, MOST INTERESTING.
Published on 3 Jan 2010 by Mrs. Jean Gauden
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
|
