The history of punishing criminals is a long and gruesome one. In 620 BC, a Greek named Draco wrote a legal code that punished almost every crime with death, except murder! For that, criminals were exiled. Odd facts about crime and punishment like this abound in history. Readers encounter many places and periods, from ancient China to the Victorian era, to learn all about the terrible, gross, and strange ways crimes were punished in the past. A colorful layout full of amusing and informative illustrations reinforce the main content, providing historical context and detail that will keep readers turning pages.