Rating: 
Summary: Entertaining, informative: an awesome book
Review: ...I bought this book on impulse because I just kinda dig swords, samurai, duels, all that kind of thing. I can tell you that I LOVED this book, because it covers so many aspects of the blade. Dueling, wounds, Olympic competition, samurai, German "mensur" fighting etc etc. I don't give a HOOT if armor was 60pounds... Only a few books have made me want to write to the author to compliment them on their creation--Ursala K. LeGuin for "The Tombs of Atuan" and Bryce Courtenay for "The Power of One" for example, but I'm going to do it for this book. The author did well for the layman, very well, and I keep picking it up again to look things over. Plus, I have signed up for fencing lessons. Now how is that for a compliment to a book? I loved it, I think most everyone will too.PS--dear Richard--I swear, the 1800's-era photo of the beheaded guy (saber duel): it looks faked. Any word on that? Something about how on foot is not visible, the body position. Just curious. Great book!
Rating: 
Summary: A Book about Fencing as a Sport
Review: Cohen dazzles the reader with a lifetime of note taking and extensive research, giving details, as well as personal insights that bring a lot of fencing lore that is either fragmented or dispersed in handbooks, treatises, and annals into a single volume. Cohen summarizes for the reader's benefit what would take - as it did him - decades for us to synthesize. And having withstood the test of competitive fencing on the British Sabre team in the 1980's and 90's, Cohen has the experience and the contacts which makes his book a must-have for the experienced and casual fencer's library.
Knowing what to say and about whom to say it in the world of fencing is an audacious editorial task in which Cohen succeeds. Go to any international fencing tournament and each individual deserves more than a mere 15-minutes of fame. With thousands of historical fencers to pick from, Cohen does an excellent job of recounting the lives of many important or simply interesting fencers. Included are playwrights, novelists, philosophers, emperors, movie stars, fencing champions, Nazis, Communists, spies, and a host of others. The chapters on Helene Mayer ("The Woman who Saluted Hitler"), Pawlowski ("Faustian Pacts"), and Emil Beck ("The Demon Barber") make for a fascinating read.
For the general reader with limited fencing experience, the book does prove to be compelling, if one can get through the sheer length of Cohen's work (500 pages of text). For those with more specialized interest, however, By the Sword is more authoritative in the modern time period than it is in discussions of earlier fencing history, which is more properly swordsmanship than it is fencing. Early chapters are full of material, all of it properly quoted and footnoted, but the glint in Cohen's writing forte is in personal anecdote than it is in summarizing the historical end of sword fighting.
Of apparent weakness is the chapter on Japanese swordsmanship, in which Cohen, to quote an earlier review, is "seduced by popular views of Zen." While acknowledging the importance of the sword to Japanese culture, the evolution of Japanese society owes more to its cultural morality, than it does to the cult of the sword. Similarly, there is almost nothing said about other Asian traditions, especially that of China. Also of recent validity is the criticism that nothing is said of the high caliber of analysis in the historical fencing tradition which seeks to understand medieval and renaissance swordsmanship as sophisticated fencing traditions and not simply long sword edge bashing.
With that said, I should reiterate that By the Sword should be in every fencer's collection. Especially to those interested in sport fencing of the Western (European) tradition.
Nick Jamilla, author of "Shimmering Sword: Samurai, Western, and Star Wars Sword Fighting"
Rating:
Summary: Very good book about European dueling and fencing.
Review: Cohen's book _By_The_Sword_ is an excellent book for the beginner-to-intermediate history student who wants to learn about the history of swords and swordsmanship, especially with regards to European dueling traditions from the 1500's on and modern-day fencing. While there are sections that deal with European swordsmanship of the 1400's and prior, Roman swordsmanship and Japanese swords and samurai traditions, Cohen's background is primarily in Olympic fencing (also known as sport fencing) and therefore it is not surprising that the majority of the book deals with fencing and its precursor, dueling.
I read this book as someone who has intermittently participated in fencing since 1995. I have not really done much fencing in tournaments, in part because of my frustration with the limitations of electric fencing and electric fencing equipment. If for no other reason, I would recommend Cohen's book because of the history of why electric fencing became popular (it had a lot to do with too much cheating & favoritism).
Fencing and dueling are very intense and individual activities that often attract practitioners who are, well, very intense and individualistic. The sections on famous dueling and fencing personalities were quite fascinating. This includes movie stars as many fencers first walk into a salle after watching _Zorro_, _The_Prisoner_of_Zenda_, _The_Three_Musketeers_ or other films in which rapier dueling plays a key part.
I specifically mentioned rapier dueling for a reason: Cohen does not spend very much time on broadsword, longsword, mixed weapon (two-handed sword vs. one-handed sword, sword vs. dagger, etc.), or battlefield traditions. Anyone looking for information about Scottish Highland regimental sword, German longsword, Fiore de Libere's work, Spanish rapier, etc. will need to look elsewhere as those are either only briefly mentioned or not mentioned at all.
There is a section on Hungarian saber but that is primarily because olympic saber fencing is descended from Hungarian saber and, like olympic foil and epee fencing, olympic saber fencing is based on two people in a duel and not two lines of cavalry charging each other on the battlefield.
While Cohen does not spend a lot of time on non-dueling practices, his sections on dueling are quite interesting. The practice of settling a legal case by having two champions fight it out on the theory that God would directly influence the bout to show which side was right legally made for fascinating reading. So did the sections about how parts of Europe went mad for dueling, with the slightest provocation being reason to call someone out for a duel. At one time the teaching of fencing was banned because it was only for ruffians and thugs and it is a very long and interesting road from those humble beginnings to the Olympic and (generally) non-lethal pastime that it is today.
Each martial art or sport has its own personality and each of these peronalities has a good side and a bad side. The good side of fencing is how much each competitor must push themselves on the strip and how in pushing themselves, they come to truly understand the capabilities (and limitations) of their own minds and bodies. Cohen does an excellent job in portraying this and in letting the reader experience the incredible thrill and enjoyment of a good fencing bout.
Unfortunately, the bad side of the fencing personality is over-competitiveness both on and off the strip. There will always be a significant minority of both coaches and players who will try to win through intimidation, bending the rules, using loopholes and sometimes flat-out cheating and lying. Unless the majority of coaches, referees and the competitors make it VERY clear that the saying "it's not whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game" is a REAL standard that WILL be enforced and offenders WILL have points taken away or even be thrown out of tournaments and clubs, competition becomes a race to the bottom because anyone or any team that does play fairly and by the rules will be at a disadvantage. Cohen is painfully honest about how much of a problem fencing currently has with cheating and extremely poor sportsmanship, especially at national and international levels. He is also honest about some of the problems overcompetitiveness and technology have brought, such as flick hits.
Cohen also discusses the current identity crisis in fencing. IS fencing a martial art, based on a tradition of honor, the importance of a man's reputation and lethal dueling? OR, is it merely a sport that grew out of dueling but has since become a contest to see who can beat the scoring machine and who can get the first touch? Cohen clearly still thinks of it as a martial art, as do many others including many beginning fencers who first walk into a salle because they have been entranced by the swordwork of Ralph Faulkner, Basil Rathbone, Douglas Fairbanks or even Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker going at it with light sabers. But I am not so sure. Neither are a lot of other people I have met in western martial arts classes who, like myself, have fenced and love what fencing can be -- a battle of wits and mettle with another person and a lot of fascinating history behind the actual art itself -- but hate what it has become -- a sport of prima donnas and showoffs -- and therefore have left it to study other European fighting traditions.
Fencing salles are not found on every street corner and in every strip mall and are definitely not as prevalent as karate, tae kwon do, kung fu and other Asian martial arts schools. This is something that bothers a lot of fencers and there is a lot of discussion in fencing groups about how to make fencing more popular and how to attract more people to it. Often heard is the comment "if only the U.S. would win an Olympic Gold Medal in fencing . . . ", usually followed by hopes that fencing would get more funding, more attention, more students, more press, etc. etc. That dream came true with this last Olympics with the U.S. winning an Olympic Gold in women's saber. It will be very interesting for the next few years to see if fencing will take off like everyone hoped it would, or if it will continue to decline into something seen in Hollywood films and an expensive niche sport that is resembling the film and historic images less and less. Whichever way it goes, _By_The_Sword_ will be an excellent resource for the student of history and human nature who wants to understand why it turned out that way.
Rating:
Summary: A fantastic read!
Review: For anyone who is fascinated by swords and their history, this is a great book. For anyone who loves fencing, this is a great book. For fans of the history of arms, civilian and military, this is a great book.
Cohen's excellent and detailed book ranges fairly far and wide covering the sword's place in human history, the shift from swords as key "military" weapons to civilian weapons to sporting equiptment. He starts with the sword's place in early human history and moves to dueling and on to the modern sports of fencing and the people who have stood out with blades in their hands.
Bravo!
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating, absorbing view into the world of the sword
Review: I'm with the reviewers that loved the book. It shows rarely seen aspects of sword fighting and its modern day descendant of fencing. I enjoyed the historical perspective (I expect the author is largely accurate since he studied original documents). Pedantry aside, I especially enjoyed the stories of modern high-level fencing: both the glorious and the down-and-dirty. Long time fencers will recognise familiar parts of their world, and non-fencers will get a chance to learn about the sport and the martial origins that make it special.
Rating:
Summary: By the Sword - a user's guide
Review: Richard Cohen's recent release, 'By the Sword', must be the best book I've read on the fencing process. As an experienced international athlete and publisher, the author combines his knowledge as an experienced blade user with an eye for a good story. While his largely anecdotal approach may frustrate academic historians, it lends itself well to explaining the process of fencing to those who have never held a sword. The context of the fencing process is something Cohen captures better than many treatises that have been consigned to the history of armed combat. That the sport has a history is important, but only to a point. This is something the author clearly appreciates. He has obviously read historical and more recent works as a fencer; a fact that may disturb the crustier historians who'd prefer a drier objectivity. Possibly even a pedantic accuracy. But I suspect the author's approach of placing historical bladework in the context of the rules and conventions of today's game is more likely to yield returns for those who see themselves as participants. Though this book will appeal to fencers, the author has written for a much wider audience. I found the contents list covered a range of topics that often come up in coversation with non-fencing friends. For instance, staged bladework for movies such as the most recent James Bond. Chapters dealing with duelling, espionage and organised cheating represent a darker side that continues to fascinate the non-fencing public, to the dismay of the sporting community. Richard Cohen, former olympian, is still an active sabre fencer.
Perhaps it takes a veteran sabreur to fully appreciate his history of swordskills. This book kept me awake until I'd read the last page during a longhaul flight. I look forward to its sequel.
Rating:
Summary: To Know and Love the Sport
Review: Someone once said "to win the game is great, to play the game is greater and to love the game is greatest." In Richard Cohen's book "By the Sword" it is clear that the author truly loves the game. If you have been a fencer or are yet a fencer you to will love this wonderful book. If you are not or never have been a fencer you will learn about the history of fencing, the excitement of fencing and even some of the problems that the sport is struggling to overcome after thousands of years. It was and is a martial art often engaged in for life and death in the past to now an Olympic sport for what often seems like life and death in competition on the fencing strip.. As an American I have often felt badly that there was little reference material available to an American participant or lover of this ancient sport, as it modernizes through technology, to become more fascinating and TV watchable to the average sport fan. This book changes much of that chasm of knowledge. Cohen, an Olympic fencer, understands the skills required, the spirit needed and the inner glow and satisfaction that fencing can bring to you. As a history of the sword and its uses during the centuries this is a must read. For an individual interested in the sport of fencing it is an inspiration. En garde!!
Rating:
Summary: A delightful romp through blade history!
Review: This book is just a wonderful read! I realize that other reviewers have taken exception to parts of the work, but speaking as a stage combat practitioner and just a swashbuckling fool, it was a treat! This is among the most accesible books on the sword I have ever read, and the author is to be commended for the scope of the work, as well as the clear understandable way it is written. So if you love swords, Dumas, duels and derring-do, get a copy, you will love it!
Rating: 
Summary: A bit to much to chew... for author and reader alike
Review: This is a well written book and an impressive work. I quite like it, yet there are things that annoy me and which pulls down my overall appreciation of it Being a sport fencer since the age of 13 myself, I share Mr Cohen's lifelong love of the sport. I have taken part in international fencing (epée though) and have met (and fenced) many of the persons mentioned in the text. My own fencing master, Bela Rerrich, is being mentioned (p. 403) as well as my ideal as a fencer and boyhood hero Hans Jacobsson. I also have a strong interest in general history as well as fencing history. Of course my background and my insight into fencing gives me another perspective than that of an ordinary reader when I review the book. My first impression is that Mr Cohen has tried to cover everything about fencing. Such an ambition of course means that the author has to handle parts of the subject where he is not an expert. It also takes its toll of the reader. Sometimes I think the text loses focus and find myself turning a few pages ahead, to see when the chapter ends and what comes next. It is as if Mr Cohen is too much in love with the subject to let go of any part of it. Even though himself a publishing director, I think he would have benefited from the eyes of a critical editor who could have cut down the total text with at least one fourth. The weakest parts are in the beginning of the book where the history of fencing is described. As example: one, in the history fencing, very important incident is the duel called the "Coup de Jarnac" in 1547, after which French kings never again granted duellists a field for fighting a duel and thus forced duelling to be an all illegal act. This also of course had implications on fencing and how it was being regarded. Rarely in history we can point at an individual event and say: - Here is a turning point, here history actually changed direction. I think Mr Cohen totally fails to recognise the importance of this incident. In his chapter "The Perfect Thrust" he reduces the "Coup de Jarnac" merely to be an example of a secret touch successfully carried out. Another turning point in the history of fencing was when French fencing masters started to teach parry-riposte in two different movements instead of one. Here I think Mr Cohen is poor both in checking his sources as well as in proof-reading. On page 72 Mr Cohen claims that the master Le Perché de Coudray in 1605 codified a new way to hold the weapon thus allowing a new way of fencing. If the text had been proof-read properly the year would have been 1635, as he correctly states on page 83. Had he checked the sources better though, he would have discovered that the 1635 work of Le Perché is a very illusive piece of paper. Egerton Castle refers to it but puts a `?' behind it in his listing of fencing books. The fencing bibliographers Vigeant (1882) and Thimm (1896) don't mention it. The Italian Gelli (1895) writes that this work can not be located and that Castle only is referring to a "traité", still Gelli thinks that Castle was too meticulous to have made a mistake but choose himself not to include it in his listings. Where and how Castle found it and got to know about it is, as far as I know, still a mystery. Instead we rely on a 1676 version of Le Perche's work. This might seem a trifle but +/-70 years of course makes a lot of difference for a reader expecting accuracy, especially since Mr Cohen jumps forward and backward in the centuries, namedropping celebrities without really telling us why. Before the eyes of the reader comes Mozart, Ignatius Loyola, Napoleon, etc all with some connection, however trivial, to swords. Moving into the 19th and 20th centuries I find Mr Cohen more on point. I can not comment on the subjects of Japanese fencing, movie fencing, sword swallowing or many of the other areas Mr Cohen moves into, but overall I think the text is much more focused and interesting from here on. I am fascinated with the accounts of nazi-fencing and the story of Helen Mayer. (A little surprised that the author found it worth to include a full chapter on her, when his main source is a biography published in 2002, apparently though he was already working on the story). In the end the author deals with issues very close in time and only of interest to the fencing establishment. For future readers these things soon will appear as out of date. This unnecessarily dates the book which, if you can let yourself be swept away by the story and the magnitude of information and disregard the errors, will be of great interest to many in- and outside of fencing for many years to come. In his final acknowledgements Mr Cohen admits there might be mistakes and shortcomings in the text but says that this, "as any past fencer will recognise is the fault of the referee". As a sabre fencer Mr Cohen might be able to make such a statement, myself an epée fencer and an international referee, would not grant me the same permission.
Rating: 
Summary: Something to keep in mind while reading -- check his facts
Review: This is a work that I find hard to categorize, but one which I enjoyed immensely. Mr. Cohen is an absolutely first rate writer and story teller and the various subjects of By the Sword can probably not be found in any other place or dozens of places. The combination of history, athletics, literature and cinema that this entails makes the book quite a page turner and one that can be read for pure pleasure. I recommend it heartily.
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