From the time it was a Roman settlement, there have been people who decided the punishment, people who carried out the decision, crowds who gathered to watch and the people who experienced the punishment. This book covers anything that was officially done to punish political enemies, heretics, murderers, pickpockets, pirates, clippers, witches, debtors, seducers and one man who rode a donkey into Bristol, which was felt to be an imitation of Christ. So, of course he was taken to London, put into the pillory, then whipped through the streets to another pillory, where a hole was made in his tongue with a red-hot iron and the letter B was branded on his cheek for "Blasphemer". He was then taken back to Bristol and made to ride on the donkey facing backwards. Then back to London and put in prison. And didn't he have it coming to him?

There's is so much information like this, about individuals and their crimes, about types of punishment used in London, the various prisons throughout the city, the prison hulks, and even a brief chapter on ye olde S&M brothels. I know it all sounds gruesome, but if you can handle history, you'll probably be fine with this. The book actually has some odd photos included among the contemporary etchings of hangings, like why is there a photo of a pub the prison warders drank in? And another photo of a pub that was built across the street from where a prison used to stand? I'm just going with it because I like history books that focus on the individual stories while still giving the big picture. I was unaware that England had sent thousands of criminals to America as punishment up until the Revolutionary War. ( )