Making Murder Public: Homicide in Early Modern England, 1480-1680

Making Murder Public explores the connections between the emergence of a formal distinction between murder and manslaughter in sixteenth-century England and a significant reduction in the rates of homicides individuals perpetrated on each other. It demonstrates the value of distinguishing between murder and manslaughter and how homicide became more effectively criminalized between 1480 and 1680, with chapters devoted to coroners' inquests, appeals and private compensation, duels and private vengeance, and print and public punishment.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 208 pages
Publication date: 10 February 2022
Publisher: Oxford University Press

Homicide has a rich and complex history, with significant developments occurring in early modern England. In the sixteenth century, there emerged a formal distinction between murder and manslaughter, which was marked by a lighter punishment for the latter. This distinction was made meaningful through the recognition that manslaughter did not warrant the death penalty. Alongside this, there was a notable reduction in the rates of homicides individuals perpetrated on each other.

"Making Murder Public" delves into the connections between these two changes. It explores the value of distinguishing between murder and manslaughter, or at least understanding how this distinction came to matter in a period that also witnessed dramatic drops in the occurrence of homicidal violence. The book focuses on the politics of murder, examining how homicide became more effectively criminalized between 1480 and 1680. Chapters are devoted to coroners' inquests, appeals and private compensation, duels and private vengeance, and print and public punishment.

The English had begun moving away from treating homicide as an offense subject to private settlements or vengeance long before other Europeans, at least from the twelfth century. However, what happened in the early modern period was, in some ways, a continuation of processes long underway, but intensified and refocused by developments from 1480 to 1680. "Making Murder Public" argues that homicide became fully public in these years, with killings seen to violate a king's peace, which people increasingly conflated with or subordinated to the public peace or public justice.

This shift in the perception of homicide had profound implications for society. It led to the criminalization of murder and the establishment of a legal system that sought to punish those who committed such acts. The book also highlights the role of print and public punishment in shaping public opinion and attitudes towards murder. The media, in particular, played a crucial role in disseminating information about crimes and in shaping public perception of the perpetrators.

In conclusion, "Making Murder Public" is a valuable contribution to the study of early modern English history. It explores the complex relationship between homicide, the legal system, and public perception, shedding light on the processes that shaped the criminalization of murder and the development of modern criminal justice. The book's insights into the politics of murder and the role of print and public punishment are particularly relevant to contemporary discussions about crime, justice, and media.

Weight: 308g
Dimension: 234 x 156 x 12 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780192863744