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Curious Punishments of Bygone Days

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About This Book

This work surveys obsolete forms of public and corporal punishment from earlier centuries, describing devices and practices such as bilboes, ducking stools, stocks, pillories, branks, gags, branding, whipping-posts, public penance, military penalties, and sanctions against authors and books. Drawing on court records, newspapers, diaries, and prints, it explains legal grounds, typical offenses, social rituals of humiliation, and sometimes violent or tragic outcomes, while noting contemporary reactions and anecdotal instances. Illustrated plates accompany chapters and the tone alternates between historical documentation and detached curiosity about practices now abandoned.

About the Author

Earle, Alice Morse portrait

Alice Morse Earle

Alice Morse Earle was an American author and historian known for her detailed explorations of early American life and customs. Her works often focus on the colonial period, providing insights into the daily lives, traditions, and social practices of the time. Notable titles include "Child Life in Colonial Days," which captures the experiences of children in early America, and "Customs and Fashions in Old New England," which examines the cultural practices of the region. Earle's writing is characterized by a blend of narrative and historical analysis, making her contributions significant to the understanding of American heritage.

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