Billington: Victorian Executioner
£11.60£12.30 (-6%)
‘An insightful and gripping account that will take you into the dark but fascinating world of a Victorian executioner.’ – Stewart P. Evans
Between 1884 and 1905 James Billington and his three sons, Thomas, William and John, were responsible for 235 executions in Victorian Great Britain and Ireland. They hanged many notorious murderers, but equally fascinating is the story of the family. Did James really feel he served society and justice, or did this position satisfy something more personal?
Billington: Victorian Executioner provides a complete account of the stories behind James Billington’s executions, as well as the real man behind the rope – a man whose business was death. This enthralling biography is an exciting addition to any true crime bookshelf.
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Additional information
| Publisher | The History Press (2 Feb. 2023) |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Paperback | 336 pages |
| ISBN-10 | 1803992417 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-1803992419 |
| Dimensions | 19.9 x 2.8 x 12.9 cm |
by J. Boylan
good book
by Raymond Cross
interesting but seams as though it is only about the people that he has hung and not his life story as i expected not like the other hang men of great britain i am a bolton lad and it does seam that all of the hangmen that great britain employed were from the same area in lancashire i.e bolton and surounding area,s.??
by Caroline H.
Some poor research here, she writes a disclaimer at the beginning of the book re spelling inconsistencies within documents, while I often find this to be true, the errors on pages 108 and 109 are serious. In all previous accounts of this murder including very clear prints in newspaper reports nowhere does the name Parker Tyerman appear. The name is Barker Tyerman. This is very sloppy and calls into question the rest of the research.I think it more likely these murder stories have just been rehashed from other sources and no original research has taken place. Also the victim had not been shot “through” the head the bullet did not penetrate the bone.
by Tina
This book while interesting dosn’t give much insight to billington himself
by Edward Llewellyn
It was with some trepidation that I decided to send for the book, Not knowing if It would be my idea of a good read.
However on reading the book may I congratulate the Author on a most interesting Book, What a Macabre profession to be employed in but some had to do it, I recomend this book to any reader interested in the ways of the Victorian Lifestyle an unputdownable book.Well worth the price paid.
by G Quigley
This shares the same flaws and strongpoints as the works of most members of this secretive and dark trade. The history is excellent, the research seems strong and the writing flows making the grim subject matter very readable. The issue is that Billington becomes a bit part player in his own book. Like most executioners, he was hoghly reticent about his “other job” and so we never get much sense of what his feelings were as he “turned off” convicted murderers. This is understandable but there is a pronounced sensation that he barely appears. This is frustrating in a biography. There is one moment, perhaps the most infamous of his career, where you can empathise with him. At the very end of his career a friend of the family committed murder in an argument. The victim dying in the Billington house. Actually in the arms of Billington’s son and assistant. There must of been one horrible sense of foreboding as it played out. Billington dragged himself off his death bed to honour one last job.
by Emma Lou
Really interesting read, written in a very engaging way.
by Mr. M. W. Wabe
This is a book about the life of James Billington, one of England’s hangmen. It tells of the executions he carried out, how he was viewed by the ordinary peoplke and those in authority and how it affected him.