In 1955, former nightclub manageress Ruth Ellis shot dead her lover, David Blakely. Following a trial that lasted less than two days, she was found guilty and sentenced to death. She became the last woman to be hanged in Britain, and her execution is the most notorious of hangman Albert Pierrepoint's 'duties'. Despite Ruth's infamy, the story of her life has never been fully told. Often wilfully misinterpreted, the reality behind the headlines was buried by an avalanche of hearsay. But now, through new interviews and comprehensive research into previously unpublished sources, Carol Ann Lee examines the facts without agenda or sensation. A portrait of the era and an evocation of 1950s club life in all its seedy glamour, A Fine Day for a Hanging sets Ruth's gripping story firmly in its historical context in order to tell the truth about both her timeless crime and a punishment that was very much of its time.

The Rebellion of the Hanged is the fifth book in legendary author B. Traven’s multi-volume retelling of the Mexican Revolution. Originally published in 1936, Traven captures the struggle for freedom of the enslaved Indians against labor agents in this thrilling, action-packed account. "The Jungle Novels constitute one of the richest portraits of revolution in all literature."- University Review

Celebrated operatic soprano Caroline Prince has returned to Denver to assume the position of artistic director of the regional opera company. When her path crosses that of Jill Allen, the passion they’d shared before Caroline’s career had skyrocketed still seems to burn hot for both of them. But Jill remembers all too well being a distant second in Caroline’s list of passions. How can she trust that Caroline will be content in her new life and they can build something that will last? Romance sizzles in this sumptuous story of music and a secret that can tear two women apart.

A history of mentalities, emotions, and attitudes rather than of policies and ideas, it analyses responses to the scaffold at all social levels: among the crowds which gathered to watch executions; among 'polite' commentators from Boswell and Byron on to Fry, Thackeray, and Dickens; and among the judges, home secretary, and monarch who decided who should hang and who should be reprieved. Drawing on letters, diaries, ballads, broadsides, and images, as well as on poignant appeals for mercy which historians until now have barely explored, the book surveys changing attitudes to death and suffering, 'sensibility' and 'sympathy', and demonstrates that the long retreat from public hanging owed less to the growth of a humane sensibility than to the development of new methods of punishment and law enforcement, and to polite classes' deepening squeamishness and fear of the scaffold crowd.

(Kar-ma - The sum of a person's actions during the successive phases of his or her existence, regarded as determining his or her destiny in future incarnations.) "Karma" it's all around us affecting our everyday lives, we're absorbed by it. It's as real as the air we breathe, and the love we share. Just like the love we feel and the air we breathe it's going on without being seen. No one is more affected by this than Christopher. After years of sexual escapades, breaking hearts, and in the end ruining good women over and over again, he thought that he had finally found the ONE. There was something different about her, she had a certain realness about herself, she was special. So special in fact that instead of her being head over heels for him like so many others before her, it was the complete opposite. It was she that had him wide open, and in the end it would be him that would have to pick up the pieces of his broken heart, and find a way to go on with his existence.

On a frosty day in February 1862, hundreds gathered to watch the execution of Nathaniel Gordon. Two years earlier, Gordon had taken Africans in chains from the Congo -- a hanging offense for more than forty years that no one had ever enforced. But with the country embroiled in a civil war and Abraham Lincoln at the helm, a sea change was taking place. Gordon, in the wrong place at the wrong time, got caught up in the wave. For the first time, Hanging Captain Gordon chronicles the trial and execution of the only man in history to face conviction for slave trading -- exploring the many compelling issues and circumstances that led to one man paying the price for a crime committed by many. Filled with sharply drawn characters, Soodalter's vivid account sheds light on one of the more shameful aspects of our history and provides a link to similar crimes against humanity still practiced today.

The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D., stands as a monumental anthology that not only captures the essence of one of the 18th century's most complex and influential literary figures but also showcases a rich tapestry of narratives that reflect the diverse methodologies in biography writing. Edited by figures such as James Boswell and Grosvenor Osgood, this collection combines meticulous historical research with personal anecdotes, thereby offering readers a multifaceted view of Johnsons life and times. The assortment of literary styles within the volumeranging from Boswells detailed narrative to Osgoods insightful commentaryhighlights the evolving nature of biographical writing, making this work a cornerstone in the study of literary history. The contributing editors, Boswell and Osgood, bring their unique backgrounds to the forefront of this anthology, enriching the compilation with perspectives that span across centuries. Boswell's 18th-century firsthand experiences with Johnson provide an intimate portrait, while Osgood's 19th-century scholarly approach adds a layer of critical analysis, situating Johnsons life within broader historical and cultural movements. This interplay between personal acquaintance and historical scholarship offers an unparalleled insight into the complexities of Johnson's character and his impact on English literature. This anthology is recommended for anyone interested in exploring the depth of biographical literature through the lens of Samuel Johnsons life. It is not merely a collection of works but an invitation to engage with the intricate blend of personal reflection and historical context. Readers will find themselves immersed in a dialogue that spans centuries, offering a unique educational experience that deepens the appreciation of literary biography and the enduring legacy of Samuel Johnson. This collection promises to be an indispensable resource for scholars and general readers alike, eager to explore the synthesis of literary craftsmanship and historical insight.