The Book of the Sword: With 293 Illustrations (Dover Military History, Weapons, Armor) [Paperback]

Sir Richard F. Burton (Author)

Book Description

Series: Dover Military History, Weapons, Armor | Publication Date: July 1, 1987

Eloquent, exceptionally erudite history of the "Queen of Weapons." Traces sword's origin — from prehistory to its full growth during early Roman Empire. Discusses earliest weapons of stone, bone, horn and wood as well as variations: sabre, broadsword, cutlass, scimitar and more. Enhanced by nearly 300 excellent line drawings.

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications (July 1, 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486254348
• ISBN-13: 978-0486254340
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #387,187 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

55 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must for sword and fencing enthusiasts!, August 15, 1997

By 

Anita Evangelista (Springfield, MO USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Book of the Sword: With 293 Illustrations (Dover Military History, Weapons, Armor) (Paperback)

Written in 1884, this book is full of the history and lore of the sword. Richard Burton (not the actor)was a historian, an explorer, and a fencer, and he managed to blend all three interests in this fascinating biography of "the Queen of Weapons." His passion for the sword is obvious as he follows it from its origins in prehistory to Roman times. For Burton, no praise is too great, no detail too small when it comes to the sword. He had a burning desire to illuminate, to tell what he knew, and this he did with the full force of a tidal wave. Originally planned as the first of three volumes, THE BOOK OF THE SWORD unfortunately sold poorly when it was first published, so the later volumes never materialized. Today, the book is recognized for the work of art it truly is. As a fencing master and writer, I recommend this book highly.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ABSOLUTE CLASSIC - THE BEST, November 8, 2004

By 

D. Blankenship (The Ozarks) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Book of the Sword: With 293 Illustrations (Dover Military History, Weapons, Armor) (Paperback)

If you like swords..this book is for you. If you like Victorian writing...this one is for you. Please, before you read the book, realize who wrote it and when he wrote it. The book is very, very detailed. It is written in a style which most are not use to, therefore making it a difficult read for some. Burton, a Master Swordsman, did a tremendous amount of reasearch on this book and it was not written for those looking for a light hearted literary romp. If you are not particularly interested in sharp weapons, word roots or wonderful Victorian writing, then this one may not be for you. On the other hand, if you are a serious student of such, then this one is a must for your book collection. I do wish that more of Burton's writings had been saved. I highly recommend.

16 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A third of the history of the Sword, June 23, 2000

By 

M. A. Ramos (Florida USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Book of the Sword: With 293 Illustrations (Dover Military History, Weapons, Armor) (Paperback)

Written in 1884, this book is full of the history and lore of the sword. Richard Burton was a historian, an explorer, and a fencer. His love of the sword is obvious as he follows it from its origins in prehistory to Roman times. You can tell that Burton believed no detail too small when it comes to the sword. He had a burning desire to tell what he knew, and this he did with great detail. It is obvious that this was to be a multi-volume series. Though written well....I was looking for information that would have been in Volume II. Since the series will never be complete; the title should be altered to include the time period reviewed. (With that done it would be 5 star, but I would have not bought it.)