author: Hank Reinhardt
name: Elaine
average rating: 3.76
book published: 2009
rating: 3
read at: 2010/01/02
date added: 2014/02/09
shelves: history, non-fiction, science, technology, d-and-d
review:
The author died before finishing, and it reads like it. Which is unfortunate, because there’s a lot of fascinating information and a great tone to the book. I include this on the d&d shelf because it gives me some color to use in describing characters and actions. Lots of lively bits of history, great photos and drawings, and strong opinions about swords (and other weapons, armor).
Best tidbit for me was the description of the secondary dagger used in (renaissance?) fencing, the main gauche, mostly because my character in our current game fights very much in that style. (Dagger, BTW: 14-16″ blade, nothing to sneeze at.)
Last chapter is weak & meandering philosophizing, unfortunately, and there’s at least one entire intended section missing, on Arab swords.