The Executioner - A Hangman's Life in 16th Century Nuremberg

The Diary of Death: Frantz Schmidt killed nearly 400 people and cruelly tortured or mutilated countless others. By the end of his life, the Nuremberg executioner had inflicted suffering on over 700 individuals. Historian Joel F. Harrington has now analyzed his historical diary from the 16th century for the first time. In doing so, he gained rare insights into the professional practice and daily life of this man, who, in addition to his role as a feared executioner, also worked as a surgeon.