11-16-2002, 03:13 PM
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#1 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: NJ, USA
Posts: 1,184
| By the Sword, the book not the movie
I just ran across a new fencing book whilst browsing at Borders:
By the Sword: A History of Gladiators, Musketeers, Samurai, Swashbucklers, and Olympic Champions
by Richard A. Cohen
After quick perusal, it appeared to be an interesting review of the history of swordplay and fencing from ancient times to the present (Schmitt and Golubitski are mentioned in the end).
It seemed to have avoided the "decline of fencing" histionics and appeared to try to objectively cover the evolution (or change, for the naysayers of modern fencing) from bronze swords to modern fencing.
Based on that impression, I bought it.
I'll give a book report when finished.
Paolo
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"He is a man of splendid abilities but utterly corrupt. He shines and stinks like rotten mackerel by moonlight." "Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin to slit throats."
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11-17-2002, 12:12 PM
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#2 | | Member
Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: KY
Posts: 74
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11-17-2002, 05:03 PM
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#3 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: NJ, USA
Posts: 1,184
| However in this case, I'll have to take it with a grain of salt, considering the source.
I'm not looking for a scholarly treatise on fencing systems (we have Sydney Anglo and William Gaugler for that.)
I was intrigued by the fact that the book didn't terminate at 1920 and declare that all subsequent swordplay was not fencing and irrelevant.
Additionally, an OK from Amberger is a plus (even if it doesn't seem to be a ringing endorsement.). Chris seems to be one of the few authors in the fencing world who can stand in both worlds and remain rational.
I'll reserve final judgement or a report until I finish it.
Paolo
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"He is a man of splendid abilities but utterly corrupt. He shines and stinks like rotten mackerel by moonlight." "Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin to slit throats."
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11-17-2002, 06:02 PM
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#4 | | Member
Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: KY
Posts: 74
| I might have to give it a chance. Even if it isn't any good I give it 4 stars on its cover  | |
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11-18-2002, 02:39 AM
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#5 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Arcata CA USA
Posts: 312
| Mr. Hand has a point though; those are appalling errors to make in a book meant to educate people about fencing history. If you don't understand something it isn't a good idea to put forth your own unsupported suppositions as fact. | |
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11-18-2002, 11:56 AM
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#6 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Georgia
Posts: 1,144
| I don't know about that. There are certain fencing masters who constantly put forth their own opinions as GODS OWN TRUTH.
sigh.......
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11-18-2002, 01:50 PM
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#7 | | Armorer
Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Milwaukee, WI
Posts: 1,624
| Quote: Originally posted by swordsen
I don't know about that. There are certain fencing masters who constantly put forth their own opinions as GODS OWN TRUTH.
sigh....... | I've never met Stephen, but everything I've read posted by him, and the opinions of just about everyone else who interacts with him, demonstrate to me that he is most certainly not such a person.
It doesn't mean that those of us on the competitive fencing side wouldn't find the those parts of the book relevant to us worthwhile, just that if you'll need to be aware that the book may be repeating flawed "common knowledge" regarding historical fencing. Compiling a list of every book, article, or TV program guilty of that would be a good project for Wowbagger the Infinitely Prolonged after he gets through personally insulting every sentient being in the Universe in alphabetical order  .
-Dave | |
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11-18-2002, 10:22 PM
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#8 | | Curmudgeon-in-Chief
Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Somewhere in your nightmares!
Posts: 23,164
| Any relation to Austen Wowbagger? | |
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11-19-2002, 11:01 PM
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#9 | | Member
Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: KY
Posts: 74
| I ended up buying the book, a fellow fencer gave me a call and said that it was out at Barnes n' Noble. So I figured what the heck. I don't regret spending $30. It is not all bad, even though he should covered up the footsteps of Castle instead of continuing in them. I found all of his post 17th century stuff interesting. It is a good book for fencers to have, as long as they take some thing that he has said with a grain of salt in referring to the historical side of swordplay. I liked his chapters on movie swordplay, dueling and the champions. | |
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