The Instruments of Torture

From the simple fist and the boot, to the thumbscrew, rack and hallucinogenic drugs, torture has been used throughout history to punish, intimidate or obtain a confession. Long associated with absolute monarchies and totalitarian regimes, since the twenty-first century’s War on Terror, torture is now a controversial issue concerning both pariah states and Western democracies. Instruments of Torture looks at the techniques and tools used, ranging from the earliest known historical instances to alleged recent torture practices in Guantánamo Bay, Uzbekistan and Baghdad. Covering torture across the globe, the many methods are grouped by type, enabling each practice to be traced historically and geographically. Authoritatively researched, Instruments of Torture is illustrated throughout with historical engravings and photographs. By studying the tools of torture this book illuminates the whole practice of torture through the ages.