By the Sword, Richard Cohen
![[Image: bythesword.jpg]](http://www.songe.fr/weblog/images/bythesword.jpg)
Absolutely remarkable nonfiction history of duelling in all its forms, including up to the modern age of fencing. You'd be surprised who duelled, in history, who actually had skin in the game of honour. Strongly recommended.
Two notable trivia I learned from this book:
(1) Bob Anderson, the guy who choreographed the Star Wars films, was not just some stuntman. He was a British Olympian fencer and had been choreographing films since 1953. The man was an astonishing artist.
(2) I was wrong and feel ashamed of ever having pejoratively saying that someone 'died in harness' as though they were some horse who dropped dead while toiling its way ahead of a plough in a field.
"Harness" was the old, historical name for armour. The phrase 'suit of armor' did not exist until the 16-1700s. To say a man died in harness was to say that he died in his armour, that he died like a faithful soldier on the battlefield and not in his bed. That's what the origin of the phrase "died in harness" actually is.
Absolutely remarkable nonfiction history of duelling in all its forms, including up to the modern age of fencing. You'd be surprised who duelled, in history, who actually had skin in the game of honour. Strongly recommended.
Two notable trivia I learned from this book:
(1) Bob Anderson, the guy who choreographed the Star Wars films, was not just some stuntman. He was a British Olympian fencer and had been choreographing films since 1953. The man was an astonishing artist.
(2) I was wrong and feel ashamed of ever having pejoratively saying that someone 'died in harness' as though they were some horse who dropped dead while toiling its way ahead of a plough in a field.
"Harness" was the old, historical name for armour. The phrase 'suit of armor' did not exist until the 16-1700s. To say a man died in harness was to say that he died in his armour, that he died like a faithful soldier on the battlefield and not in his bed. That's what the origin of the phrase "died in harness" actually is.
Remissas, discite, vivet.
God save us from people who mean well. -storm