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Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite
Sentenced to Hang: Memoirs of Billy Hands 1768-1853, written by Tony Rail, is a biographical account based on the life of a Worcestershire farmer's son, William "Billy" Hands, who creates a new existence for himself in the thriving industrial workshops of 18th-century Birmingham. Billy Hands receives training as a metalworker in a community where religious differences impact daily business operations. An enthusiastic sportsman, he joins a society of young craftsmen whose influential patrons have plans that extend far beyond the boxing ring. When political agitation surrounding the French Revolution ignites the Birmingham riots of July 1791, Billy believes he has a part to play in keeping his neighbors safe. However, when the riot results in many of the homes of some of the most influential people in town being destroyed, he finds himself on a list of those who will be prosecuted by the government. With the town’s leaders guarding their own interests, Billy faces an uncertain future in the shadow of the gallows.
Tony Rail's Sentenced to Hang is an excellent biography, turning a difficult period in England's history into the incredible story of a Birmingham craftsman. Today's reader can easily relate to Rail's depiction of Billy Hands and his confrontation with coworker Jemmy Trueman regarding their decision to attend a boxing match. The consequences of this confrontation are clear when Trueman testifies against Hands in court. Rail makes the courtroom proceedings riveting through the examination of Job Hervey, another former workmate, whose answers about Billy lifting floorboards at John Ryland’s mansion become central to his petition. Rail writes with splendid wit in a convincing eighteenth-century voice. The dialogue gives Billy an irrepressible personality, particularly as he weighs up the motives of those who once welcomed him. Readers drawn to historical biography and the likes of Myers's The Gallows Pole and Uglow's The Lunar Men are in for a treat. Very highly recommended.
