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

A piercing look into the way men have chosen to defend themselves before the arrival of the gun. The development of the sword, its varying incarnations and the way its implementations changed the world is the subject of Cohen’s work. The quest for superior steel and technique drove all of the empires of the old world. The sword was the quintessential weapon of choice. Its quality denoted...more

A piercing look into the way men have chosen to defend themselves before the arrival of the gun. The development of the sword, its varying incarnations and the way its implementations changed the world is the subject of Cohen’s work. The quest for superior steel and technique drove all of the empires of the old world. The sword was the quintessential weapon of choice. Its quality denoted wealth, status and skill. It was the accessory of choice; the right blade could make poor men rich and rich men either poor or dead. Cohen takes us through the sword hall of fame, highlighting those famous weapons that have remained in the modern lexicon even after their use has been segregated to the realm of the aficionados and enthusiasts. A dazzling book.   hide