Assassins' deeds : a history of assassination from ancient Egypt to the present day / John Withington.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Withington, John, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Assassination--History.

Assassination.

Assassins--History.

Assassins.

Political violence--History.

Political violence.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (345 pages)

Place of Publication:

London : Reaktion Books, 2020.

System Details:

Mode of access: World Wide Web.

Summary:

Assassins have been killing the powerful and famous for at least three thousand years. Personal ambition, revenge, and anger have encouraged many to violent deeds, like the Turkish sultan who had nineteen of his brothers strangled or the bodyguards who murdered a dozen Roman emperors. More recently have come new motives like religious and political fanaticism, revolution and liberation, with governments also getting in on the act, while many victims seem to have been surprisingly careless: Abraham Lincoln was killed after letting his bodyguard go for a drink. So, do assassinations work? Drawing on anecdote, historical evidence, and statistical analysis, Assassins' Deeds delves into some of history's most notorious acts, unveiling an intriguing cast of characters, ingenious methods of killing, and many unintended consequences.

Contents:

Assassins' deeds : a history of assassination from ancient Egypt to the present day

Contents

Prologue

1. The Ancient World

2. The Roman Empire and the Dark Ages

3. The Age of Chivalry

4. The Wars of Religion

5. The Age of Revolution

6. The Modern Age: World Wars and Terrorism

7. The Ones That Got Away

Select Bibliography

Photo Acknowledgements

Index.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

1-78914-352-7