Seven Who Were Hanged, The

The story of seven people tried for murder and sentenced to death by hanging. As they await their execution in prison and contemplate what it means to die, they struggle with fear and horror, each in their own way. Praise for The Seven Who Were Hanged: ?????????? Trial, verdict, awaiting an execution: Leonid Andreyev paints vivid and livid psychological portraits of those sentenced to death – both idealists and dreamers; and also mean and calloused criminals. The story is profound, precise and frightful. ?????????? Perfect craft in this story on the cruelty of execution. I don't know a better story in the world. ?????????? Every time I read this I come away feeling even more positively about this as a completely transcendent and astonishing piece of literature. By now I'm pretty convinced it's the best book I've ever read and maybe ever will read. ?????????? The book questions the humanity of the death penalty as a response to violent crime, and does so in a way that is subtle rather than heavy handed or moralistic. But what is most impressive is how Andreyev manages to convey the state of mind of people who are confronted with imminent death.