Resumo de Executioner: Pierrepoint

Albert Pierrepoint was Britain's most notorious hangman, responsible for an estimated 400 plus deaths he has the morbid honour of being the man who has executed more than any other in recorded British history. His autobiography is not what you might expect. It isn't a sensational account that recalls twitching bodies on the rope or grim accounts of the more gruesome details that some will no doubt look for. Instead, it is a factual and respectful account of the life of a man with a form employment like no other.

Beginning with a detailed description of his early years, Pierrepoint sets out to explain in detail who he was and where he had come from. His family life was obviously very important to him, as was his relationship with his father and his Uncle Tom. Although the idyllic description of his early years in the North of England is rather twee, it is given a sense of mystery and darkness due to the fact that both Albert?s father and Uncle were also hangmen. As we read about the kind-hearted manner of his loving Uncle and the social skills of his father, it is difficult to connect their family life with their working life. Pierrepoint explains that both men refused to discuss their role of 'head executioner' and kept it from their personal lives as much as possible. This was passed on to Albert when he became an executioner, following what became a ghoulish family tradition.

Hearing of his desire to follow in his father?s footsteps and become an executioner is an odd statement to read I must confess. To have the desire to work as a man who ends the lives of others is so far removed from my, and most peoples, plane of existence that it makes for fascinating reading. What I was able to understand by the end of Pierrepoint's story was why he chose his role and what motivated him. He had a desire to emulate and surpass his father, he believed he was chosen by god for the role to make the suffering of the condemned as quick as possible and he viewed his 'trade' as an important skill, almost an art form. Pierrepoint's expertise was unsurpassed and he was regarded as the premier expert on executions in Europe. He travelled extensively, teaching others how to make the process as quick and painless as possible and developed techniques that eased the suffering of the condemned prisoners.

One of the most interesting parts of the book is Pierrepoint's recollection of the Nuernberg trials when he travelled to Germany to hang the Nazi's who were responsible for the Belson atrocities. A slice of history from a direct source, told in an un glamorised and sympathetic manner. That, really, is the crux of this autobiography. Yes, we learn of Pierrepoint the man, but it is also an interesting insight into a part of British history that is consigned to the past forever. Its factual value is of some significance to those who are interested in such areas
The poignant ending to his story leaves a residue on the reader, and it will make those who yearn for the return of the death penalty think again. Despite hanging over 400 people in his life, Pierrepoint came to the conclusion that the death penalty was not a deterrent to those who kill. He claims that he saw many who went to the gallows with a smile or sense of relief on their face. He says that people killed in the heat of passion knowing that death awaited them but committed the act regardless. He saw the death penalty as a form of revenge only and, as a devout Christian, could not agree with this principle, believing that only God had the right to avenge. Whether or not you agree with this will depend on the individual, but hearing the life of a man who has looked into the eyes of many moments before their death, it is difficult not to heed his words.

Resumos Relacionados