A Handbook on Hanging

This book is a real oddity, and one well worth the read. A searing polemic indicting the death penalty in England (which was primarily by hanging, but he also touches on other methods of execution), in the guise of a defense of the executioner. Duff's style makes me think of a mid-20th century British version of Stephen Colbert. The NYRB rerelease will primarily be preaching to the choir, but as the book's description states, no matter what your views on capital punishment, you cannot come away from this book without realizing that no matter what else capital punishment is, "it is certainly killing."

The other day in the news I heard a story about a dog at a shelter that had been "humanely put to sleep". Only, he wasn't really put to sleep permanently, and woke up in a bin full of his former doggy comrades--all of them indeed corpses. They called it a "miracle" and had him set up for adoption again.

Immediately, A Handbook on Hanging sprang to mind. It's a book I had read nearly a year ago, but had never really left my mind, especially when something like this comes to light; and in fact, when you make the "victim" going to die a cute little dog versus a supposedly guilty criminal, it might seem to take on quite a different light at first.

But I think the basic ideas remain the same--they are facts and ideas that this book had show more brought together a long, long time ago, in a rather sarcastic "mock-umentary" type format. Duff brings to clear light ideas and misconceptions about the process of dying, particularly when you are supposedly humanely forcing it on another living thing. Whatever the manner of execution, it really can be seen as quite an "art", where specific numbers are to be calculated, and if one is even remotely wrong, things can be disastrous.

Whether you are for the death penalty, against it, or never really thought to question the ideas of your country, it makes you wonder if there is really any humane death at all, and whether our methods of killing aren't as infallible as our justice system may be. show less

First published in 1928,(this is the1938 edition) and a very strange book indeed,probably the strangest one in my whole collection.I cannot do better than give the sub-title in full.-Being a short introduction to the fine art of Execution,and containing much useful information on Neck-breaking,Throttling,Strangling,Asphyxiation,Decapitation and Electrocution;as well as Data and Wrinkles for hangmen,an account of the late Mr. Berry's method of Killing and his working list of Drops;to which is added a Hangman's Ready Reckoner and certain other items of interest.
The title page ends 'All very proper to be read and kept in every family'
Can I say more,I really think not.