A new transcription has become available through our website: The chapters for Fencing and Broad-Sword or Single-Stick, taken from the 1896 volume of Cassell’s Complete Book of Sports and Pastimes: Being a Compendium of Out-Door and In-Door Amusements. The first chapter transcribed, on “Fencing”, it gives an excellent overview and description of a fairly classical and conservative method of fencing with foils for sport and general enjoyment. Furthermore, it describes the equipment required for the activity (foils and protective gear), provides some prices for the equipment, and discusses the issues of selecting a safe mask or foil. The second chapter transcribed, on “Broad-Sword or Single-Stick”, presents a method for civilian recreational broadsword play of the late 19th century, along with a set of rules for the conduct of fencing with singlesticks. It contains a lot of very pertinent advice about good practice when a fencing-master is not locally available, and how to undertake solo training or paired training with a friend in a meaningful and useful fashion without this supervision. Because of the general informality of the tone of the writing, it is a very engaging piece to read, enjoyable and easy-going, without being too rigid, precise or difficult in terms of language or concept. It is therefore an ideal short treatise to help historical fencers without an understanding of foil develop such understanding and appreciation, and it is also a good treatise for modern fencers to examine some of the relatively recent historical roots of their sport. historical-academy.co.uk/files/research/keith-farrell/Sports%20and%20Pastimes%201896.pdf
Posted on: Thu, 10 Jul 2014 09:21:18 +0000
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