Vladimir Nabokov

NABOKV-L post 0010756, Thu, 9 Dec 2004 12:45:53 -0800

Subject
Fwd: Gallows humour lunette
Date
Body
Dear Don and List...

I seem to recall reading in a history of Dr Guillotin's 'humane' invention
that the lunette
doesn't guarantee the optimum position for the neck. When a victim reacted
by retracting his head
tightly against the lunette, the executioner's assistant would pull him
forward by the ears.
He 'posed' the subject, which is why he was referred to as "le
photographe".

Regards,

Tom (Rymour)

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