Drawing from his extensive tenure as a Yeoman Warder at the Tower of London, Geoffrey Abbott crafted a significant body of work exploring historical narratives and intriguing subjects. His prolific output, including nineteen books and contributions to the Encyclopaedia Britannica, highlights a dedication to uncovering and sharing knowledge. Abbott's writing offers readers a unique perspective, blending firsthand experience with scholarly depth. His unique voice invites exploration into the rich tapestry of history and the enduring mysteries that capture the imagination.
Geoffrey Abbott examines the life and practice of William Calcraft, the hangman with the longest career and shortest rope. As with other books by the author, he combines a wealth of research with his own black sense of humour, giving us an eminently readable biography of this 19th-century hangman.
Execution is a gruesomely fascinating account of methods of judicial Execution from around the world and through the ages, and includes such hair-raising categories as death by cannibalism, being sewn into an animal's belly and a thousand cuts. In his own darkly humorous style, Geoffrey Abbott describes the instruments used and their effectiveness, and reveals the macabre origins of familiar phrases such as 'gone west' or 'drawn a blank', as well as the jargon of the underworld. From the preparation of the victim to the disposal of the body, Execution answers all the questions you are ever likely to ask, and some you would never want to imagine.