Hanging in Chains

"Hanging in Chains" by Albert Hartshorne is a grim exploration of capital punishment in England, particularly the practice of displaying executed bodies as a public warning. The book, written in the late 19th century, uncovers the legal and historical context of these punishments, bringing to life notorious criminals and the executions they faced. It begins by examining ancient burial customs in Jewish, Egyptian, and Greek societies, showing how important proper burial was and how shameful it was to die without it. Hartshorne paints a chilling picture of how gibbeting was intended to strike fear into the hearts of the public, using historical stories and religious references to highlight the gruesome reality of judicial punishments throughout history.