Lord High Executioner an unashamed look at hangmen, headsmen, and their kind

Mystery writer Howard Engel considers the agents of state-sanctioned death - executioners. Beginning with an examination of ancient forms of execution, Engel concentrates on English forms of execution, particularly hanging. He discusses individual hangmen and their contributions to make their craft more humane and efficient. Engel also includes chapters on the guillotine, hanging in Canada, and capital punishment in the United States. Descriptions of violence.