By the Sword

Richard Cohen chronicles the technical and cultural evolution of swordplay from ancient Egypt to the modern Olympic Games. He tracks the shift from judicial combat and the lethal code duello to the calculated movements of sport fencing. The narrative links the physics of the blade to the biographies of historical figures such as Napoleon, Lincoln, and Mussolini, who utilized fencing for discipline or political theater. Cohen documents the specific transition from heavy broadswords to the lighter rapier and foil, explaining how metallurgy and changing social etiquette dictated combat styles.

Historians and fencing enthusiasts read this volume to understand how the sword functioned as both a tool of violence and a symbol of status. The book provides a technical breakdown of maneuvers like the parry and lunge while placing them within the broader context of Western social codes. Readers gain a precise timeline of the weapon’s development, leaving with an understanding of how a once-lethal necessity transformed into a disciplined athletic competition governed by strict electronic scoring and international regulations.

Outward-looking and clear-cut; a moderate read.

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