By the Sword: A History of Gladiators, Musketeers, Samurai, Swashbucklers, and Olympic Champions; 10th anniversary edition (Modern Library Paperbacks)

Cohen's book _By_The_Sword_ is an excellent book for the beginner-to-intermediate history student who wants to learn about the history of swords and swordsmanship, especially with regards to European dueling traditions from the 1500's on and modern-day fencing. While there are sections that deal with European swordsmanship of the 1400's and prior, Roman swordsmanship and Japanese swords and samurai traditions, Cohen's background is primarily in Olympic fencing (also known as sport fencing) and therefore it is not surprising that the majority of the book deals with fencing and its precursor, dueling.I read this book as someone who has intermittently participated in fencing since 1995. I have not really done much fencing in tournaments, in part because of my frustration with the limitations of electric fencing and electric fencing equipment. If for no other reason, I would recommend Cohen's book because of the history of why electric fencing became popular (it had a lot to do with too much cheating & favoritism).Fencing and dueling are very intense and individual activities that often attract practitioners who are, well, very intense and individualistic. The sections on famous dueling and fencing personalities were quite fascinating. This includes movie stars as many fencers first walk into a salle after watching _Zorro_, _The_Prisoner_of_Zenda_, _The_Three_Musketeers_ or other films in which rapier dueling plays a key part.I specifically mentioned rapier dueling for a reason: Cohen does not spend very much time on broadsword, longsword, mixed weapon (two-handed sword vs. one-handed sword, sword vs. dagger, etc.), or battlefield traditions. Anyone looking for information about Scottish Highland regimental sword, German longsword, Fiore de Libere's work, Spanish rapier, etc. will need to look elsewhere as those are either only briefly mentioned or not mentioned at all.There is a section on Hungarian saber but that is primarily because olympic saber fencing is descended from Hungarian saber and, like olympic foil and epee fencing, olympic saber fencing is based on two people in a duel and not two lines of cavalry charging each other on the battlefield.While Cohen does not spend a lot of time on non-dueling practices, his sections on dueling are quite interesting. The practice of settling a legal case by having two champions fight it out on the theory that God would directly influence the bout to show which side was right legally made for fascinating reading. So did the sections about how parts of Europe went mad for dueling, with the slightest provocation being reason to call someone out for a duel. At one time the teaching of fencing was banned because it was only for ruffians and thugs and it is a very long and interesting road from those humble beginnings to the Olympic and (generally) non-lethal pastime that it is today.Each martial art or sport has its own personality and each of these peronalities has a good side and a bad side. The good side of fencing is how much each competitor must push themselves on the strip and how in pushing themselves, they come to truly understand the capabilities (and limitations) of their own minds and bodies. Cohen does an excellent job in portraying this and in letting the reader experience the incredible thrill and enjoyment of a good fencing bout.Unfortunately, the bad side of the fencing personality is over-competitiveness both on and off the strip. There will always be a significant minority of both coaches and players who will try to win through intimidation, bending the rules, using loopholes and sometimes flat-out cheating and lying. Unless the majority of coaches, referees and the competitors make it VERY clear that the saying "it's not whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game" is a REAL standard that WILL be enforced and offenders WILL have points taken away or even be thrown out of tournaments and clubs, competition becomes a race to the bottom because anyone or any team that does play fairly and by the rules will be at a disadvantage. Cohen is painfully honest about how much of a problem fencing currently has with cheating and extremely poor sportsmanship, especially at national and international levels. He is also honest about some of the problems overcompetitiveness and technology have brought, such as flick hits.Cohen also discusses the current identity crisis in fencing. IS fencing a martial art, based on a tradition of honor, the importance of a man's reputation and lethal dueling? OR, is it merely a sport that grew out of dueling but has since become a contest to see who can beat the scoring machine and who can get the first touch? Cohen clearly still thinks of it as a martial art, as do many others including many beginning fencers who first walk into a salle because they have been entranced by the swordwork of Ralph Faulkner, Basil Rathbone, Douglas Fairbanks or even Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker going at it with light sabers. But I am not so sure. Neither are a lot of other people I have met in western martial arts classes who, like myself, have fenced and love what fencing can be -- a battle of wits and mettle with another person and a lot of fascinating history behind the actual art itself -- but hate what it has become -- a sport of prima donnas and showoffs -- and therefore have left it to study other European fighting traditions.Fencing salles are not found on every street corner and in every strip mall and are definitely not as prevalent as karate, tae kwon do, kung fu and other Asian martial arts schools. This is something that bothers a lot of fencers and there is a lot of discussion in fencing groups about how to make fencing more popular and how to attract more people to it. Often heard is the comment "if only the U.S. would win an Olympic Gold Medal in fencing . . . ", usually followed by hopes that fencing would get more funding, more attention, more students, more press, etc. etc. That dream came true with this last Olympics with the U.S. winning an Olympic Gold in women's saber. It will be very interesting for the next few years to see if fencing will take off like everyone hoped it would, or if it will continue to decline into something seen in Hollywood films and an expensive niche sport that is resembling the film and historic images less and less. Whichever way it goes, _By_The_Sword_ will be an excellent resource for the student of history and human nature who wants to understand why it turned out that way.

I first read this book back in highschool, and I finally decided to grab a copy for my own. It's a good book, with lots of information across multiple aspects of the sword, from their creation, to their use, to their history, to their cultural importance. It's a few years old and slightly out of date, with a few factual errors in some of the smaller aspects, but the average person and neophyte sword enthusiast would find this to be an excellent starter and base upon which to build their knowledge. Again, it isn't perfect (nothing is), but the is a vast amount of information I'd simply never have been able to find out more about without already having vague details and keywords floating about in my head from this book.On the whole, it's the perfect starter book for someone who just wants to learn more about swords, and an excellent source of general information and a useful source for anyone who's already fairly deep into the subject.

Someone once said "to win the game is great, to play the game is greater and to love the game is greatest." In Richard Cohen's book "By the Sword" it is clear that the author truly loves the game. If you have been a fencer or are yet a fencer you to will love this wonderful book. If you are not or never have been a fencer you will learn about the history of fencing, the excitement of fencing and even some of the problems that the sport is struggling to overcome after thousands of years. It was and is a martial art often engaged in for life and death in the past to now an Olympic sport for what often seems like life and death in competition on the fencing strip..As an American I have often felt badly that there was little reference material available to an American participant or lover of this ancient sport, as it modernizes through technology, to become more fascinating and TV watchable to the average sport fan. This book changes much of that chasm of knowledge.Cohen, an Olympic fencer, understands the skills required, the spirit needed and the inner glow and satisfaction that fencing can bring to you. As a history of the sword and its uses during the centuries this is a must read. For an individual interested in the sport of fencing it is an inspiration. En garde!!

If you want a book primarily concerned with the history and politics of fencing with a short introduction to the history and development of the sword, this is your book.This book started out great and was incredibly interesting and engaging, and quite well-written. About half-way through the author decides to focus - in excruciating detail - on the sport of fencing, its stars, and its politics. I would have much rather the author spent more time on the history of swords, sword fighting, and sword culture through the ages, rather then use the history of the sword to lead up to his piece de resistance: fencing history. He also had quite a lengthy section on swords in cinema, which I didn't particularly enjoy. The book should be titled "By the Sword: A very short history of gladiators, musketeers, and samurai, followed by a lengthy history of swords in cinema and an in-depth look at the major figures and politics of fencing."

This is a very comprehensive overview of sword evolution in Europe, touching a little bit on the Mediterranean and Asia, but it is mostly focused on Modern Olympic fencing and its history. The entire last third of the book is exclusively about fencing, with earlier chapters establishing things that Fencing would later adapt. It you're looking to know about specific weapons like katanas, long swords, etc. this isn't the book for you, but if you're just starting your research into swords, it isn't a bad place to start.

Of all the weapons of war and combat, the sword has fascinated more and for longer than any other. 'By the Sword' is an entertaining, informative and eminently readable journey through the history of swordsmanship from gladiators to Olympic athletes, taking in the antics of famous swordsmen and swashbuckling filmstars, and including an interesting (but hopefully not too helpful) section on how to cheat.Somebody wrote recently in the Times that fencing is the new rock and roll. Its comeback in the film business, and particularly the work of Bob Anderson on -- among others -- the Lord of the Rings and others gets due treatment in this book.Whether you are a fencer, or a former fencer, or a lover of interesting stories and interesting characters, this is a book to linger over long winters evenings or bright spring mornings.

As your looking at this book I will belive you are interested in the subject, so go ahead put it in your basket & proceed to check-out. You'll be happy you did. Only possible drawback is it's not a light weight read.

A1 product. Recommended.

A very interesting book well produced and informative

Excellent. The most comprehensive book on fencing I have come across.