Friday, August 30, 2024

The History of Torture by Daniel P. Mannix

The History of Torture
by Daniel P. Mannix
1964, Dell

I got turned on to Mannix by a interview with Laurence James - https://www.stewarthomesociety.org/interviews/james.htm This and other titles of Mannix informed James' exploitation novels.

A little bit of pop psychology and criminology, but mostly just accounts of torture and execution from ancient Rome to present. I would have liked to see more outside of the western canon, but we get a little bit of Native America, Asian, and African torture methods.

Some highlights - sliding victims back and forth straddling a greased rope until they're sawed through. Peeling off the soles of the victim's feet, filling the pocket with corn kernels, sewing the skin back on, and making them run the gauntlet. Sliding hollow bamboo up the keister, followed by a red hot needle for executions without a trace.

From Amazon https://amzn.to/3WecRC5

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