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Title: The Secret History of the Sword by J. Christoph Amberger, J Christopher Amberger ISBN: 1-892515-04-0 Publisher: Unique Publications/CFW Enterprises Pub. Date: 01 February, 1999 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.48 (21 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Blood, Sweat and Tears of the Sword---
Comment: "The Secret History of the Sword" by 'Fechtmeister' Amberger is a 'deeply-penetrating' insight into 'The Blood, Sweat and Tears' of the SWORD. A 'sharply-cutting' exploration of Western Martial Arts--particularly sword-related ones. It gives us "Adventures in Ancient Martial Arts" with a GUIDE who is an insider into the hotly-combative internal Spirit as well as the cooly-rational external Technic of 'The Western Sword Way'. An Inspiration for those-just-curious as well as those-who-follow--'The Western Sword Way' [single quotes are my own]---
Rating: 5
Summary: One of the Greatest Myth Debunking Books Ever
Comment: Mr. Amberger has put together one of the most important books in the spirit of Western Martial Arts. It debunks many myths about fencing and swordsmanship throughout the ages and provides SOLID FACTS with footnotes to his sources to back them up. The gentleman who reviewed this book with three stars stated, "unfortunately he mis-uses historical terms, fails to explore topics fully, and presents some bad facts." The historical terms Mr. Amberger uses are accurate, the topics explored as well as they can be within the pages provided, and the facts are very well supported.
For the gentleman who gave this book one star, you are way off base sir and I doubt you have any factual arguments to back up your false and unconstructive statements. Mr. Ambergers information on the history of fencing are backed up by his footnotes and by the respected works of others. To insult Mr. Amberger's factual content is to insult the work of the many reputable sources and people that Mr. Amberger uses as references. This book could have used a better organizational structure, true, but it is well deserving of the five star rating I gave it. As a member of The Cateran Society and the S.P.A.T.H.A. I consider myself, if anything, to be well read in the area of Western Martial Arts. If you don't like the book, thats your oppinion, but at least know what you are talking about when you criticize something. If this were a different time period, Mr. Amberger would challenge you and give you a sound thrashing if you were man enough to accept. Since he is not here to defend himself I challenge you to debate this point with me on SwordForum. The only people who would try to assasinate this book would be disgruntled Olympic Fencers who don't want to see their treasured false beliefs in the history of their sport debunked, or Rapier and Smallsword stylists who don't appreciate their limited art being knocked on. Take my word for it, certain reviewers are just upset that this book tells it like it is. "The Secret History Of The Sword" provides an in depth look at fencing history and the history of the duel. I would recommend this book to anyone serious about the history of combat with the sword.
-Nathan Grant
S.P.A.T.H.A
The Cateran Society -Scots Gaelic Martial Arts
Rating: 5
Summary: Odd people write odd reviews
Comment: People practicing historical martial arts come in two varieties. One group can read. The other not. The amazon collection of reviews of Amberger's Secret History makes my case. I bought Amberger's book two years ago and I still find new things in it I didn't know. Okay, I grant you that Amberger's choice of format is not easy to follow. His style is eclectic and his writing distinctive. (On the other hand he's a native German writing in English but he does that better than most native English speakers I've known.) And I find that the lack of an index puts undue stress on someone looking for particular information on a particular subject. But only a person with blinders (or someone with a personal agenda or feelings of personal iniquity?) could call his writing bad. In fact, it is better than most other martial arts books. Only a complete dolt would not be able to see the incredible amount of information spread out. And I'm not talking anecdotes here but hundreds and hundreds of first-hand sources - French, German, English, Latin, Greek - which are quoted in the original, translated into understandable English and brought into proper context. I looked for published reviews of the book and found very positive ones, one even by Robert W Smith (known to most martial artists as John Glibey) and Diane Skoss. Believe me, you're better off taking their word regarding Amberger's book.
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Title: By the Sword : A History of Gladiators, Musketeers, Samurai, Swashbucklers, and OlympicChampions by Richard Cohen ISBN: 0375504176 Publisher: Random House Pub. Date: 05 November, 2002 List Price(USD): $29.95 |
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Title: Renaissance Swordsmanship : The Illustrated Book Of Rapiers And Cut And Thrust Swords And Their Use by John Clements ISBN: 0873649192 Publisher: Paladin Press Pub. Date: 01 March, 1997 List Price(USD): $25.00 |
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Title: The Book of the Sword by Sir Richard F. Burton ISBN: 0486254348 Publisher: Dover Pubns Pub. Date: 01 July, 1987 List Price(USD): $10.95 |
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Title: Medieval Swordsmanship: Illustrated Methods and Techniques by John Clements ISBN: 1581600046 Publisher: Paladin Press Pub. Date: 01 October, 1998 List Price(USD): $40.00 |
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Title: The Art and Science of Fencing by Nick Evangelista ISBN: 1570280754 Publisher: McGraw-Hill/Contemporary Books Pub. Date: 11 January, 1999 List Price(USD): $16.95 |
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