Evans's book stands as a remarkable scholarly achievement that will set the standard for large scale social histories of German criminal justice
Law and History Review, Summer 2001
Evan's contribution is breathtaking in the accumulation of otherwise inaccessible information about the infliction of a particular penalty. Through his tireless work, Evans thus has laid the foundation for much future work in the history of punishment as well as in social and political theory
Law and History Review, Summer 2001
Richard Evans has written the definitive social history of capital punishment in post-medieval Germany ... Rituals of Retribution is easily the most significant achievement in the field of the history of German criminal justice since the publication of Eberhard Schmidt's Einführung in die Geschichte der deutschen Strafrechtspflege
Law and History Review, Summer 2001
provides fascinating insights into the role of the church in the death penalty throughout German history
Tom Munro, Alternative Law Journal
A must for anyone who is interested in the history of criminal law.
Tom Munro, Alternative Law Journal
the great strength of his book is its detail.
The Times
monumental study...It is a formidable achievement. His text is massively detailed and carefully argued over nearly 1,000 pages. There seems to be almost nothing of relevance that he had not read; even more remarkably, his arguments are grounded on extensive use of archival sources from all centuries, which has also yielded a rich harvest of illlustrations
Times Literary Supplement
massive in size, formidable in scholarship, yet compelling and highly readable
Clive Emsley, History Today
another mammoth, pathbreaking study ... This is a marvellously written exploration of the changing position of capital punishment in German society and politics ... In spite of its length (and weight), the book is difficult to put down. Evans keeps his story moving forward at a brisk tempo, combining subtle analysis with an eye for pointed, sometimes, horrifying detail. The subject is treated solemnly, but it shocks despite the effort to avoid a sensationalist approach to the material ... Evans succeeds in bringing fresh insights to an area of modern history which has already attracted considerable attention ... Politicians, as well as historians, should read this compelling book and take note.
Robin Pearson, Continuity and Change 14:2 1999
a magnum opus that deals with an abundance of issues and provides a wealth of information ... Evans's scholarly objective is ambitious, his achievement impressive. Evans is very good at unearthing new sources that have so far hardly been used. Evans's book is clearly structured. Despite its length the reader can quickly get an idea of what the author has to say - and it is a good deal. With much joy of discovery and great perspicacity Richard Evans has written a seminal work that is gripping to read and will provide a great deal of inspiration for further research.
Dirk Blasius, Universität/Gesamthochschule Essen, German Historical Institute London Bulletin, Volume XIX, No. 2, November 1997