The Memoirs Of The Sanson First Edition, 1862–1863

Complete 6-volume set – First edition, Paris, 1862–1863

A rare complete set of the famous Memoirs of the Sanson Family, chronicling the history of the dynasty of Parisian executioners over nearly 160 years, from the end of the reign of Louis XIV to the July Monarchy.

Published under the name of Henri-Clément Sanson (1799–1889), the last representative of the line of Parisian executioners, this work constitutes an exceptional account of France’s judicial and political history. The volumes recount major criminal cases, famous executions, and key events of the Ancien Régime, the French Revolution, the Empire, and the Restoration.

The Sanson family remains particularly associated with the executions of Louis XVI, Marie-Antoinette, Danton, Robespierre, and many other prominent figures of the Revolution.

This publication was a huge success in the 19th century and remains today an essential reference for enthusiasts of history, the justice system, the French Revolution, and historical curiosities.
Although published under the name of Henri-Clément Sanson, the last representative of the famous dynasty of Parisian executioners, these memoirs were compiled with the assistance of the publicist M. d’Olbreuze, who was responsible for a significant portion of their literary editing. The work thus blends family memories, archives passed down by the Sanson family, and historical writing from the Second Empire.
The Sanson memoirs provide abundant information on the organization of executions and their various methods, legal costs, major judicial and political events of the 18th century, and famous executions, Cartouche, Damiens, Louis XVI, Charlotte Corday, Marie-Antoinette, Madame du Barry, Danton, Camille Desmoulins, Robespierre, Cadoudal, Louvel, Lacenaire… The author does not spare us the often gory details of the various forms of torture under the Ancien Régime (torture by waterboarding, the wheel, hanging, and burning) and during the Revolution (the guillotine)