A Bilingual Guide to the Exhibition of Torture Instruments

Inquisition: A Bilingual Guide to the Exhibition of Torture Instruments by Robert Held is a richly illustrated catalog documenting a European traveling exhibition of historical torture devices. This bilingual volume provides a comprehensive overview of instruments and methods used from the Middle Ages through the industrial era, including famous examples such as the Iron Maiden, the Rack, breast expanders, and heretic forks. Featuring detailed descriptions for each object, the book explains their historical use while offering visual documentation through numerous black-and-white photographs and illustrations of the actual instruments exhibited across Europe between 1983 and 1992. Text is presented side-by-side in two languages, primarily English and Spanish (sometimes with Italian), making the exhibition accessible to an international audience. While the content may appear macabre, the book serves an educational purpose, offering insight into the history of violence, religious persecution during the Inquisition, and the evolution of criminal justice systems. A must-have for historians, educators, and collectors interested in historical justice, punishment, and European cultural history.