Hanging In Chains

A chilling window into the rituals of justice: Hanging in Chains exposes the grim mechanics behind public punishment and the moral imagination that shaped it.
Albert Hartshorne s meticulous study guides readers through the evolution of gibbeting practices, gallows history, and execution methods from medieval justice to 19th century criminology. Combining vivid case studies, archival detail, and clear analysis, this volume traces how societies have displayed crime and punished offenders illuminating broader shifts in criminal justice evolution and the social meaning of punishment in history. Hartshorne contextualizes public executions, exploring the spectacle and symbolism of historical punishment and the transition from corporal display to modern penal systems.
This book s historical significance is twofold: it is a foundational text for scholars of crime and punishment history, and a stirring narrative for general readers fascinated by the darker chapters of human law. Hartshorne s prose balances sober scholarship with haunting storytelling, making complex topics medieval justice, gibbeting practices, and the development of penal theory accessible without losing nuance.
Alpha Editions is proud to republish this long out-of-print work: restored, carefully edited, and redesigned for today s and future generations. This edition is more than a reprint it's a collector s item and cultural treasure for lovers of legal history, criminology, and classic literature. Essential for collectors and curious minds alike.