10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Engaging, lively and witty, January 16, 2006
This review is from: Gentlemen's Blood: A History of Dueling (Paperback)
The topic of this book seems off-putting, for some reason. It seems that we all assume that the history of dueling would be grim, dull and depressing.
But on a whim, I checked this book out from the library. Within a day or two, I had placed my order to buy it. It is an intelligent and a very engaging read. Barbara Holland brings her charming wit to every page.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Take back your scurrilous words, knave!, December 7, 2008
This review is from: Gentlemen's Blood: A History of Dueling (Paperback)
"Since pissing on walls is still common today in sophisticated Paris, protecting a lady from the sight in bygone days must have been time-consuming." Author Barbara Holland in GENTLEMEN'S BLOOD
When I first saw that Barbara Holland, one of my very favorite social commentators, had addressed the subject of dueling in GENTLEMEN'S BLOOD, I thought "But, why?" Was one of her ancestors killed in a face-off, perhaps, or was she herself called out by a work colleague one day at the water cooler? I mean, what's that all about? Regrettably, she doesn't say.
Subtitled "A History of Dueling from Swords at Dawn to Pistols at Dusk", this volume is exactly that and beyond to the use of Bowie knives and, in one bizarre instance, "a deadly venomous snake, probably a cobra."
After an examination of what it was that had to be so stoutly defended by dueling, i.e. the nebulous concept of "honor" seemingly only possessed by gentlemen, Holland describes the evolution of the one-on-one confrontation from 16th and 17th century Europe (England, Ireland, France, Italy) to 18th and 19th century America (Northeast, Old South, West), then back to the outposts of the British Empire, Germany, and Russia. Interwoven into the narrative is a description of the early rules of engagement, as well as the aforementioned transition from long-bladed weapons to, um, snake. For each period and place, Barbara includes specific illustrative examples. Some U.S. readers will perhaps recognize the Hamilton-Burr, Jackson-Dickinson, Clay-Randolph and Benton-Lucas contests for the bits of Americana they are. However, a large proportion of the other recorded duels are just superfluous filler that only serves to unnecessarily prolong the book unless illustrative of the ridiculous extreme of a gentleman's honor that compels him to challenge another. For example:
"... Lieutenant Evans of the Twenty-Fourth Foot was chatting with Lieutenant Ogilvy ... They compared the respective merits of their respective regiments, and Evans mentioned that he thought that the quality of the spruce beer served in the messes was about the same in both. Ogilvy, stung, retorted that the Twenty-Sixth's beer was infinitely better. Evans said that must mean Ogilvy was calling him a liar. Ogilvy retorted that he was indeed 'a damned lying scoundrel'... After the first round of shots (in the subsequent duel), Evans again asked for an apology. Ogilvy again refused, and they broke out another case of pistols."
Perhaps the most unnecessary chapter is "Russian Soul", a 22-page mini-bio of Alexander Pushkin. The fact that he was ultimately killed in a duel barely negates the fact that, if the reader couldn't care less about the Russian poet, the section is a complete bore. OK, I stand completely nekulturny.
GENTLEMEN'S BLOOD is saved by Holland's dry, rapier wit copiously served-up. But the esoteric nature of the subject and the fact that she beats it to death makes it perhaps one of her less compelling literary achievements. Sorry, Barbara, I wasn't completely engaged this time around.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Respect, Manliness and Honor, February 26, 2011
This review is from: Gentlemen's Blood: A History of Dueling (Paperback)
From Achilles versus Hector to Tiger versus Phil, the mano a mano duel has at some level always played a role in the world we live in. Barbara Holland's Gentleman's Blood is a scintillating read that takes a peek into a culture of respect, manliness and honor. One based on the Code Duello that gentleman must abide by or risk disgrace. A culture in which it was better to be shot at, stabbed, or gutted by a bowie knife than to decline an interview with an opposing principal and risk humiliation.
It was very interesting to read how dueling was a global phenomena and not just limited to certain regions. Great Britain, France, Italy, Russia, Germany, and the United States all had dueling stamped as a part of their life. Each of these countries had their own idiosyncrasies to the art of dueling which Holland explores. The book is full of dueling tales such as the Burr/Hamilton duel , Clay/Randolph, Hatfields/McCoys and many lesser known but equally compelling ones. The absurdity of some of them had me laughing out loud several times. It's a light read that is well written and flows nicely. This is the first Barbara Holland book I have read and I intend to read a couple more as she has an amusing charm in the way she writes. Enjoy.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
