The London Hanged by Peter Linebaugh
"The London Hanged" is a historical analysis that delves into the economic and social aspects of capital punishment in 18th-century London. The book examines how the legal system, particularly through the use of public executions at Tyburn, was employed to control the laboring classes as London evolved into a capitalist economy. It explores the lives and trials of those sentenced to hang, not just for heinous crimes but often for petty thefts, reflecting the harsh penal codes of the time. The narrative connects these executions to broader themes of class struggle, economic exploitation, and the development of legal institutions that supported property rights over human rights, offering a critical look at the intersections of law, labor, and capital.