Originally printed in 1885, this historical reference is considered by many to be the definitive work on fencing history and the art of European swordsmanship. Castle traces the refinement of fencing from unschooled brawling in the Middle Ages, to its latter-day precision and discipline focusing on the sixteenth-century use of the rapier and the weapon's popularity in Renaissance Italy. Castle finds the history of humanity reflected in the sword's history as he draws connections between modes of fencing and the political and social mood of the times. The book contains more than 140 black and white illustrations. Annotation (c) Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)