Assassin!: 200 Years of British Political Murder

For as long as the world has had rulers, there have been plots to assassinate those at the top. Violent death is usually associated with dictatorships and tinpot regimes. Few people know that Britain also has a history of political assassination. This book brings to life the forgotten story of assassination-successful and unsuccessful-over the last 200 years in Britain.

From prime ministers and politicians to princes, lords and officials of all kinds, Britain’s assassination attempts cover a wide variety of figures in some key moments of history. Hernon examines the motivations of the assassins-from political ideologies to simple mental instability. He shows how most attempts originated from isolated individuals or minority groups, rather than broad political will.

Ultimately, Hernon argues,assassination remains the resort of the outsider with poor political judgment. Assassination attempts have never-in this country-brought about the changes the assassin wishes. They have often served to undermine civil liberties. But they do provide a fascinating account of how the will of the individual has occasionally and dramatically intervened into the lives of those in power.