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By the Sword : Gladiators, Musketeers, Duelists, Samurai, Swashbucklers and Points of Honour - Softcover
Synopsis
Though fencing is seen as a graceful and noble sport, it is not without its seamy sides. By the Sword traces the darkness behind the mask, from the sport's early brutal days to the more civilised, yet no less dangerous, days of duelling and then to the present day. Abraham Lincoln, Karl Marx and Mussolini were all involved in duels, Hitler gave fencing a special emphasis in his regime and the best fencer the world has ever seen was an anti-Soviet spy. Cohen delves behind the headlines exposing lurid tales of cheating and blackmail, of murder and strange love affairs, the honour and dishonour of swordmanship and its cultural side from The Three Musketeers to Star Trek. Above all the book portrays the character of fencing - at once graceful, balletic, rough, technically beautiful and fiercely competitive.
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From the Back Cover
“Like swordplay itself, By the Sword is elegant, accurate, romantic, and full of brio—the definitive study, hugely readable, of man’s most deadly art.” —Simon Winchester
“A vivid and hugely enjoyable pageant of extraordinary tales . . . irresistible.” —The Economist
“In writing By the Sword, [Cohen] has shown that he is as skilled with the pen as he is with the sword.” —The New York Times
“Touché! While scrupulous and informed about its subject, Richard Cohen’s book is about more than swordplay. It reads at times like an alternative social history of the West.” —Sebastian Faulks
“A virtual encyclopedia on the subject of sword fighting.” —San Francisco Chronicle
“Literate, learned, and, beg pardon, razor-sharp . . . a pleasure for practitioners, and a rewarding entertainment for the armchair swashbuckler.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“A fascinating story told with literary verve.” —Library Journal (starred review)
From the Inside Flap
"By the Sword is an epic history of sword fighting--a science, an art, and, for many, a religion that began at the dawn of civilization in ancient Egypt and has been an obsession for mankind ever since. With wit and insight, Richard Cohen gives us an engrossing history of the world via the sword.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
- PublisherPan MacMillan
- Publication date2003
- ISBN 10 0330482297
- ISBN 13 9780330482295
- BindingPaperback
- Number of pages400
- Rating
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By the Sword: Gladiators, Musketeers, Duelists, Samurai, Swashbucklers and Points of Honour
Seller: WorldofBooks, Goring-By-Sea, WS, United Kingdom
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Paperback. Condition: Fair. A readable copy of the book which may include some defects such as highlighting and notes. Cover and pages may be creased and show discolouration. Seller Inventory # GOR003161461
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By the Sword: Gladiators, Musketeers, Duelists, Samurai, Swashbucklers and Points of Honour
Published by
Pan Macmillan, United Kingdom, London, 2003
ISBN 10: 0330482297
ISBN 13: 9780330482295
Used
Paperback
Seller: WorldofBooks, Goring-By-Sea, WS, United Kingdom
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Paperback. Condition: Very Good. Though fencing is seen as a graceful and noble sport, it is not without its seamy sides. By the Sword traces the darkness behind the mask, from the sport's early brutal days to the more civilised, yet no less dangerous, days of duelling and then to the present day. Abraham Lincoln, Karl Marx and Mussolini were all involved in duels, Hitler gave fencing a special emphasis in his regime and the best fencer the world has ever seen was an anti-Soviet spy. Cohen delves behind the headlines exposing lurid tales of cheating and blackmail, of murder and strange love affairs, the honour and dishonour of swordmanship and its cultural side from The Three Musketeers to Star Trek. Above all the book portrays the character of fencing - at once graceful, balletic, rough, technically beautiful and fiercely competitive. The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged. Seller Inventory # GOR001373994
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By the Sword: Gladiators, Musketeers, Duelists, Samurai, Swashbucklers and Points of Honour
Seller: WeBuyBooks 2, Rossendale, LANCS, United Kingdom
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: Good. Most items will be dispatched the same or the next working day. A copy that has been read but remains in clean condition. All of the pages are intact and the cover is intact and the spine may show signs of wear. The book may have minor markings which are not specifically mentioned. Seller Inventory # wbb0022614258
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By the Sword: Gladiators, Musketeers, Duelists, Samurai, Swashbucklers and Points of Honour
Seller: Reuseabook, Gloucester, GLOS, United Kingdom
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Paperback. Condition: Used; Very Good. Dispatched, from the UK, within 48 hours of ordering. Though second-hand, the book is still in very good shape. Minimal signs of usage may include very minor creasing on the cover or on the spine. Seller Inventory # CHL1899598
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By the Sword: Gladiators, Musketeers, Duelists, Samurai, Swashbucklers and Points of Honour
Seller: Aardvark Rare Books, Bucknell, SHROP, United Kingdom
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Paperback. Condition: USED_VERYGOOD. Seller Inventory # mon0000268367
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By The Sword: Gladiators, Musketeers, Samurai Warriors, Swashbucklers and Olympians
Seller: Barclay Books, York, WA, Australia
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Paperback. The secret history of the fiercely beautiful art of fencing.Though fencing is seen as a graceful and noble sport, it is not without its seamy side. By The Sword traces the darkness behind the mask, from the sport's early brutal days to the more civilised, yet no less dangerous, days of duelling and then to the present day. Abraham Lincoln, Karl Marx and Mussolini were all involved in duels, Hitler gave fencing a special emphasis in his regime and the best fencer the world has ever seen was an anti-Soviet spy.Cohen delves behind the headlines exposing lurid tales of cheating and blackmail, of murder and strange love affairs, the honour and dishonour of swordmanship and its cultural side from The Three Musketeers to Star Wars. Above all the book portrays the character of fencing - at once graceful, balletic, rough, technically beautiful and fiercely competitive. 2003. A fine, unmarked and unread copy. Seller Inventory # 21610948
Quantity: 1 available
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By the Sword
Seller: Bookbot, Prague, Czech Republic
Seller rating 4 out of 5 stars
Condition: Fine. Seller Inventory # b4eb99a1-72f0-4ee7-aba3-d161d84797a4
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By the Sword : Gladiators, Musketeers, Samurai Warriors, Swashbucklers, and Points of Honour
Seller: Anytime Books, London, United Kingdom
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Trade Paperback. Condition: Very Good. Well received study of sword fighting. pp519. Illus. Seller Inventory # 004028
Quantity: 1 available
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By the Sword : Gladiators, Musketeers, Samurai Warriors, Swashbucklers, and Points of Honour
Seller: Anytime Books, London, United Kingdom
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Cloth. Condition: USED_VERYGOOD. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. Well received study of sword fighting. pp519. Illus. Erudite pencil notes. DW in archival sleeve. Seller Inventory # 011569
Quantity: 1 available