Travel, they say, broadens the mind. It sometimes, however, produces scenes not found in a holiday brochure. What is one example involving 19th century English novelist Charles Dickens who was beloved for his writing’s humanity, wit and style.

Answer: Dickens would put his literary skills to good use even when holidaying. There, his writing provided a snapshot for his readers of life in other places. What strange event did he witness in Rome on March 8, 1845, while on vacation there?

He observed a criminal executed by guillotine for robbing and murdering a Bavarian countess who was travelling as a pilgrim to Rome. Dickens wrote that the execution had been delayed, as the criminal would not confess. Death penalties could not be carried out until the condemned had benefited from this merciful, religion based, concession.

The execution had then been further held up, as the sentenced man had refused to confess without first having his wife brought to see him. Dickens wrote somewhat critically of the large crowd who witnessed the grisly scene: ‘Nobody cared or was at all affected. There was no manifestation of disgust, or pity, or indignation, or sorrow.’

A question arises though. Would an English crowd have been more sympathetic at such a public execution, which were not ended there until 1868?

Source: Encyclopedia Britannica

More at: History

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