Academy of the Sword [Hardcover]

Gerard Thibault (Author), John Michael Greer (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 18, 2006

Secret Geometries of the Sword In the early years of the 17th century, Girard Thibault -- poet, physician, architect, painter, occultist, and master swordsman, a true Renaissance man -- astonished the courts of Europe with a new system of swordsmanship based on the principles of sacred geometry and Renaissance occult philosophy. In his youth, Thibault studied the art of the sword with the great Dutch fencing master Lambert van Someren, then traveled to southern Spain to learn _destreza_, the revolutionary Spanish system of rapier fencing, from Luis Pacheco de Narvaez and other masters of the art. After his return to the Netherlands around 1610, he won fame as one of the best swordsmen of the age, and set out to put everything he knew about the way of the sword into a single comprehensive textbook of rapier fencing that could be used by students who had no access to a teacher of his system. Originally published in 1630, _Academy of the Sword_ is that textbook -- the most elaborate manual of swordsmanship ever published in any language, packed with hundreds of clearly described and illustrated techniques. Starting with the geometrical foundations of his system, Thibault proceeds step by step to explain effective methods for drawing the sword, entering into measure, subjecting the opponent's blade, countering his attacks and defeating him, whether the contest is a friendly bout or a struggle to the death. He outlines competing systems of swordsmanship used in the Europe of his time, points out their weaknesses and explains how their proponents can be defeated, and he provides methods by which his pupils, armed only with a rapier, could overcome an opponent armed with rapier and dagger, rapier and shield, two-handed sword -- even a musket. Never before available in English, _Academy of the Sword_ has been trans

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

A longtime student of history and alternative spirituality, John Michael Greer is the author of more than a dozen books on the occult traditions of the Western world, including the award-winning New Encyclopedia of the Occult and The Druidry Handbook (Weiser, 2006), as well as translations of French and Latin occult texts. He lives in the mountains of Oregon.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 328 pages
• Publisher: Chivalry Bookshelf (October 18, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1891448404
• ISBN-13: 978-1891448409
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 8.7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #347,540 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Too sophisticated for words!, May 28, 2007

By 

E. M. Van Court "Van, emvc (at) lycos.com" (Honolulu, Hawai'i, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Academy of the Sword (Hardcover)

There are lots of ways to look at this book, so I'll take them one at a time.

As a fencing instructional text - obscure... "Academy of the Sword" is so detailed, complete, and complex that it is very difficult to follow as a fencing instructional text. Thibault's system includes considering the blade of the sword as being divided into 12 parts rather than the more common 2 or 3 (forte, foible, and sometimes medium). Descriptions of each movement are incredibly detailed, and well illustrated, but the overall effect is overwhelming. The system itself is Spanish fencing, radically different from French and Italian styles that have evolved into modern sport fencing, but the obscurity of the system only adds to the obscurity of Thibault's text. The one of the elements differentiating Spanish fencing from others is the use of a complex geometric pattern based on a circle and its diameter and chords as a training tool, and the circle shows up dozens of times in every illustration. Another difference is the upright posture and manner of holding the sword arm straight out from the torso; very different from modern sport fencing, but there had to be something to it as Spanish fencers were well respected in the period (n.b. George Silver's observations on Spanish style fencing in "Paradoxes of Defence" circa 1599). Typical of the period, the discussion of the circle integrates mathematics, geometry, anatomy, and a hint of mysticism. There is much to be learned here, but it is not for someone with only a passing or casual interest in Spanish fencing. This is a reflection of the author and target audience, scholars and educated men of the 1600s pursuing the art of the sword, rather than ruffians or the soldiers of the period.

As a scholarly translation of a renaissance text - Brilliant! This was clearly someone's passion for a long time, and the translation in to contemporary English flows well, and from the bits of the original shown in the illustrations that I could piece together, seems faithful to the letter and spirit.

As a book of reproductions of renaissance illustrations - Brilliant! The illustrations are beautifully reproduced, and they are incredible in themselves. Line etchings, but so detailed and packed with ornementation in the corners and between the illustrations of the fencers that they engage the reader as much as the text. As technical illustrations, they are busy and crowded, but well drawn, and absolutely consistent with the text.

As an inspiration for a conspiracy theorist - Brilliant! This book could inspire conspiracy theorists for years to come ("What does the cherub looking at the mystic circle on the side of the pillar -REALLY- mean?"). It's a thing of beauty, but it would be easy to perceive hints of a complex secret in the rich subtleties of the illustrations and the fencing text.

I enjoyed it tremendously, and my hat's off to the translator whose diligence has yielded such magnificent results, as well as to the original author and illustrators.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thibault - a must have text for historical fencers, July 29, 2008

By 

Jeffrey J. Richardson (Medford, Oregon) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Academy of the Sword (Hardcover)

This translation was nearly 10 years in the works and eagerly anticipated by the historical fencing community. John Michael Greer's understanding of the time period, historical philosophy and language make this text an excellant resource. The plates from the original text are recreated in excellant high quality and make this work worth having all by themselves. These engraved plates were done by a small army of some of Europes best and most famous engravers. Sadly many of the original historical copies of this text have had the lavishly illustrated plates removed and sold individually at art auctions for extremely high prices.

Thibault discusses philosophy and sacred geometry and then goes on to show how proportion is the basis for the study of the sword. Covered in intimate detail is the use of the rapier alone to fence against an opponent with single rapier, rapier and dagger, rapier and shield or longsword. In addition possibly for the first time in history is written down how to use zig zag running to come up on a man using a musket to fire at the swordsman.

Many years in the making the book was published after Thibault died and before he could write the section on combat from horseback.

Thibault's text was lauded as the most elaborately and lavishly illustrated book on fencing ever created. The pictures from the original are highly sought after by collectors. This text is a must have.

5.0 out of 5 stars well done, August 23, 2010

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R. Soong - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Academy of the Sword (Hardcover)

this is a rare book, I been searching for a copy at a reasonable rate, and this is it. While the pictures are good, I prefer the colored original, but the b/w are excellent. This is one of the few text dealing with the Spanish sword fighting style which uses circles, in fact, many of the sword movements are similar to the Chinese bagua system (which also utilizes circles) it is magical. While many of the terms are obscure, you can figure it out from the pictures if the translation
didn't make sense. The last section on sword versus a matchlock is very funny.