Arthur and C. H. Rolph Koestler

First published in 1961 this brief Penguin Special by Arthur Koestler and C. H. Rolph (both notable advocates for the abolition of capital punishment) is, "a short, violent attack on the degradation of capital punishment. The authors show that capital punishment is not a deterrent and serves no useful purpose whatsoever. They examine the attitude of the retentionists and of the judges. They analyse the actions for which those convicted have been hanged in recent times. Finally they make a moving plea for sanity in the future." (quoted text comes from the blurb on the back of the book)