By The Sword
A History of Gladiators, Musketeers, Samurai, Swashbucklers, and Olympic Champions

This is a book that could finally have unseated Egerton Castle's appallingly Victorian "Schools and Masters of Fence" as the definitive book on the history of swordsmanship. Instead, the author often parrots the same misconceptions or invents entirely new ones. It is an entertaining and engaging boo......more

Way before the entire aspect of time was even concieved, mankind began its tryst with weapons. The simple yet effective cudgels of the early humanoids would have been the precursors of great waves of destruction in the ages to come. As humans developed, so did their weapons from cudgels to spears un......more

This is certainly an entertaining read, loaded with anecdotes and random facts, and giving some insight into the world of competitive fencing. Unfortunately it is not, by any means, a history of dueling or swordplay, as the the publisher’s description, cover, and subtitle all suggest (“a history of......more

След прочитането на книгата отново прегледах корицата, анотацията и вътрешните корици и никъде не намерих да пледира за някаква изчерпателност по въпроса, та ми е доста интересно защо в половината ревюта тук се мрънка, че няма такава. Като оставим това на страна, книгата предлага огромен обем основна......more