Dead Man Walking The Eyewitness Account of the Death Penalty That Sparked a National Debate
Dead Man Walking: The Eyewitness Account of the Death Penalty That Sparked a National Debate by Helen Prejean, published by Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group in May 1994, presents a deeply personal exploration of capital punishment. This edition spans 304 pages and is written in English. The book recounts Sister Helen Prejean’s experiences as the spiritual advisor to Patrick Sonnier, a man sentenced to death for the murder of two teenagers, offering insights into the emotional and moral complexities surrounding the death penalty.
Readers will find a profound examination of the human consequences of capital punishment, as Sister Prejean navigates the fears and emotions of both the condemned and the victims’ families. The narrative delves into the moral dilemmas faced by those involved in the execution process and reflects on broader societal issues related to violence and justice. This edition continues to resonate with themes of law, criminology, and the intersection of faith and justice, inviting readers to engage in a critical dialogue about the implications of the death penalty.
Official synopsis Publisher
#1 NATIONAL BESTSELLER • A profoundly moving spiritual journey through our system of capital punishment and an unprecedented look at the human consequences of the death penalty • “Stunning moral clarity.” —The Washington Post Book World • Basis for the award-winning major motion picture starring Susan Sarandon and Sean Penn
“Sister Prejean is an excellent writer, direct and honest and unsentimental. . . . She almost palpably extends a hand to her readers.” —The New York Times Book Review
In 1982, Sister Helen Prejean became the spiritual advisor to Patrick Sonnier, the convicted killer of two teenagers who was sentenced to die in the electric chair of Louisiana’s Angola State Prison. In the months before Sonnier’s death, the Roman Catholic nun came to know a man who was as terrified as he had once been terrifying. She also came to know the families of the victims and the men whose job it was to execute—men who often harbored doubts about the rightness of what they were doing.
Out of that dreadful intimacy comes a profoundly moving spiritual journey through our system of capital punishment. Here Sister Helen confronts both the plight of the condemned and the rage of the bereaved, the fears of a society shattered by violence and the Christian imperative of love.
On its original publication in 1993, Dead Man Walking emerged as an unprecedented look at the human consequences of the death penalty. Now, some two decades later, this story—which has inspired a film, a stage play, an opera and a musical album—is more gut-wrenching than ever, stirring deep and life-changing reflection in all who encounter it.
Author
Publisher
Topics
FAQ
What is “Dead Man Walking The Eyewitness Account of the Death Penalty That Sparked a National Debate” about?
Who is the author of “Dead Man Walking The Eyewitness Account of the Death Penalty That Sparked a National Debate”?
When was “Dead Man Walking The Eyewitness Account of the Death Penalty That Sparked a National Debate” published?
What is the ISBN for “Dead Man Walking The Eyewitness Account of the Death Penalty That Sparked a National Debate”?
What are the book details (language, pages, edition)?
