Gallows Thief (Bernard Cornwell)30 July 2006·221 words·2 minsWhile looking for Sharpe books, I found another book by Bernard Cornwell called “Gallows Thief”. Having enjoyed his other books I had to buy it.<p>Bernard Cornwell must enjoy writing historical novels. This was set around the 1800’s when hanging was commonplace and justice was, despite best intentions, flawed. Thus a retired army Captain and disgraced gentleman (following his fathers bankruptcy) is given the task of investigating the crime of an already condemned man. Following a trial, the legal system believes the man guilty of murder. Captain Rider Sandman is asked to investigate and confirm this because the man’s mother appeals to the queen that he is innocent. We follow Sandman for 7 days as he, despite his original expectation of the mans guilt, discovers his innocence and attempts to report this to the home secretary so a pardon may be issued before the hanging.</p><p>Once again I was captured by the detail painted of the time. The way the prison worked and how people were kept, the language and slang (known as ‘flash’) used in the pubs and between the lower classes. The gentleman’s game of cricket, the rules slowly changing (noticing the difference between cricket in the countryside and cricket in the city), the gambling and corruption and so many other things that made the story come to life.</p></div></div></section><footer class="pt-8 max-w-prose print:hidden"><div class=pt-8><hr class="border-dotted border-neutral-300 dark:border-neutral-600"><div class="flex justify-between pt-3"><span class="flex flex-col"><a class="flex text-neutral-700 hover:text-primary-600 dark:text-neutral dark:hover:text-primary-400" href=/2006/07/30/sharpes-triumph/><span class=leading-6><span class="inline-block rtl:rotate-180">←</span> Sharpe's Triumph (Bernard Cornwell) </span></a><span class="ms-6 mt-1 text-xs text-neutral-500 dark:text-neutral-400"><time datetime=2006-07-30T11:41:40+00:00>30 July 2006</time> </span></span><span class="flex flex-col items-end"><a class="flex text-right text-neutral-700 hover:text-primary-600 dark:text-neutral dark:hover:text-primary-400" href=/2006/07/30/the-time-travel/><span class=leading-6>The Time Traveller's Wife (Audrey Niffenegger) <span class="inline-block rtl:rotate-180">→</span> </span></a><span class="me-6 mt-1 text-xs text-neutral-500 dark:text-neutral-400"><time datetime=2006-07-30T12:13:47+00:00>30 July 2006</time></span></span></div></div></footer></article><div id=scroll-to-top class="fixed bottom-6 end-6 z-50 transform translate-y-4 opacity-0 duration-200"><a href=#the-top class="pointer-events-auto flex h-12 w-12 items-center justify-center rounded-full bg-neutral/50 text-xl text-neutral-700 hover:text-primary-600 dark:bg-neutral-800/50 dark:text-neutral dark:hover:text-primary-400" aria-label="Scroll to top" title="Scroll to top">↑</a></div></main><footer id=site-footer class="py-10 print:hidden"><div class="flex items-center justify-between"><p class="text-sm text-neutral-500 dark:text-neutral-400">© 2026</p><p class="text-xs text-neutral-500 dark:text-neutral-400">Powered by <a class="hover:underline hover:decoration-primary-400 hover:text-primary-500" href=https://gohugo.io/ target=_blank rel="noopener noreferrer">Hugo</a> & <a class="hover:underline hover:decoration-primary-400 hover:text-primary-500" href=https://blowfish.page/ target=_blank rel="noopener noreferrer">Blowfish</a></p></div></footer><div id=search-wrapper role=dialog aria-modal=true aria-label=Search class="invisible fixed inset-0 flex h-screen w-screen cursor-default flex-col bg-neutral-500/50 p-4 backdrop-blur-sm dark:bg-neutral-900/50 sm:p-6 md:p-[10vh] lg:p-[12vh] z-500" data-url=/><div id=search-modal class="flex flex-col w-full max-w-3xl min-h-0 mx-auto border rounded-md shadow-lg top-20 border-neutral-200 bg-neutral dark:border-neutral-700 dark:bg-neutral-800"><header class="relative z-10 flex items-center justify-between flex-none px-2"><form class="flex items-center flex-auto min-w-0"><div class="flex items-center justify-center w-8 h-8 text-neutral-400"><span class="relative block icon"><svg aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" data-prefix="fas" data-icon="search" class="svg-inline--fa fa-search fa-w-16" role="img" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path fill="currentColor" d="M505 442.7 405.3 343c-4.5-4.5-10.6-7-17-7H372c27.6-35.3 44-79.7 44-128C416 93.1 322.9.0 208 0S0 93.1.0 208s93.1 208 208 208c48.3.0 92.7-16.4 128-44v16.3c0 6.4 2.5 12.5 7 17l99.7 99.7c9.4 9.4 24.6 9.4 33.9.0l28.3-28.3c9.4-9.4 9.4-24.6.1-34zM208 336c-70.7.0-128-57.2-128-128 0-70.7 57.2-128 128-128 70.7.0 128 57.2 128 128 0 70.7-57.2 128-128 128z"/></svg></span></div><input type=search id=search-query aria-label=Search class="flex flex-auto h-12 mx-1 bg-transparent appearance-none focus:outline-dotted focus:outline-2 focus:outline-transparent" placeholder=Search tabindex=0></form><button id=close-search-button class="flex items-center justify-center w-8 h-8 text-neutral-700 hover:text-primary-600 dark:text-neutral dark:hover:text-primary-400" title="Close (Esc)"> <span class="relative block icon"><svg viewBox="0 0 320 512"><path fill="currentColor" d="M310.6 361.4c12.5 12.5 12.5 32.75.0 45.25C304.4 412.9 296.2 416 288 416s-16.38-3.125-22.62-9.375L160 301.3 54.63 406.6C48.38 412.9 40.19 416 32 416S15.63 412.9 9.375 406.6c-12.5-12.5-12.5-32.75.0-45.25l105.4-105.4L9.375 150.6c-12.5-12.5-12.5-32.75.0-45.25s32.75-12.5 45.25.0L160 210.8l105.4-105.4c12.5-12.5 32.75-12.5 45.25.0s12.5 32.75.0 45.25l-105.4 105.4L310.6 361.4z"/></svg></span></button></header><section class="flex-auto px-2 overflow-auto"><ul id=search-results></ul></section></div></div></div></body></html>