i used his books for a school project a while ago...from what i remember he seemed to think his first teacher was a god of some kind.
i here of many people reading them when they first start fencing, to me, that seems like the worst time to read them. because you have nothing to compare his information (or lake of) with.
they make good bookends though...or if you taped them together a nice hard chest protector (to protect us from the evil modern fencing.
"Life is no way to treat an animal".
Kurt Vonnegut
"Epee Combat Manual" is okay, though a couple of the illustrations are with the wrong caption. Sometimes awkwardly illustrated, but at least the author gives you a head-on view of what an action looks like. Much more useful and practical than the ordinary side-on illustrations.
Freedom of speech makes it easier to spot the idiots.