{"product_id":"old-sparky-anthony-galvin-9781631440267","title":"Old Sparky: The Electric Chair and the History of the Death Penalty","description":"In early 2013, Robert Gleason became the latest victim of the electric chair, a peculiarly American execution method. Shouting \u003ci\u003ePog mo thin\u003c\/i\u003e (\"Kiss my ass\" in Gaelic) he grinned electricity shot through his system. When the current was switched off his body slumped against the leather restraints, and Gleeson, who had strangled two fellow inmates to ensure his execution was not postponed, was dead. The execution had gone flawlessly--not a guaranteed result with the electric chair, which has gone horrifically wrong on many occasions. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ci\u003eOld Sparky\u003c\/i\u003e covers the history of capital punishment in America and the \"current wars\" between Edison and Westinghouse which led to the development of the electric chair. It examines how the electric chair became the most popular method of execution in America, before being superseded by lethal injection. Famous executions are explored, alongside quirky last meals and poignant last words. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThe death penalty remains a hot topic of debate in America, and \u003ci\u003eOld Sparky\u003c\/i\u003e does not shy away from that controversy. Executions have gone spectacularly wrong, with convicts being set alight, and needing up to five jolts of electricity before dying. There have been terrible miscarriages of justice, and the death penalty has not been applied even-handedly. Historically, African-Americans, the mentally challenged, and poor defendants have been likely to get the chair, an anomaly which led the Supreme Court to briefly suspend the death penalty. Since the resumption of capital punishment in 1976 Texas alone has executed more than 500 prisoners, and death row is full. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eSkyhorse Publishing, as well as our Arcade imprint, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in history--books about World War II, the Third Reich, Hitler and his henchmen, the JFK assassination, conspiracies, the American Civil War, the American Revolution, gladiators, Vikings, ancient Rome, medieval times, the old West, and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Anthony Galvin\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 1631440268\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781631440267\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Carrel Books\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 06\/09\/2015\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 280\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.20lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.10h x 6.20w x 1.30d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eReview Citation(s): \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eBooklist\u003c\/i\u003e 06\/01\/2015 pg. 11\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eLibrary Journal\u003c\/i\u003e 07\/01\/2015 pg. 97","brand":"Anthony Galvin","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":46110729568511,"sku":"9781631440267","price":34.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_02ae020d-b6ae-478e-a467-751e11996507.jpg?v=1725469600","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/old-sparky-anthony-galvin-9781631440267","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}