Fencers Quarterly Online - The Living Sword: A Fencer's Autobiography

The Secret History of the Sword: Adventures in Ancient

Martial Arts

    by J. Christoph Amberger

    Multi-Media Books, Burbank, CA

    Softcover, 1998, 281 pages, US$19.95

    ISBN: 1892515040

Occasionally, a book comes along that changes the way the art of the sword is perceived. The Secret History of the Sword , by J.

Christoph Amberger, is one such book. It is, simply put, a fascinating read.

I should say right off, don't be surprised or bothered by the eclectic nature of this volume. This is part of the book's strength. It is

not just another history competing for space with Egerton Castle's The Schools and Masters of Fence (1885), Alfred Hutton's The

Sword and the Centuries (1901), Arthur Wise's The Art and History of Personal Combat (1971), or Dr. William Gaugler's fine recent

work, The History of Fencing (1998). The Secret History of the Sword is in a catagory all its own. It covers a lot of uncharted territory.

This book is not so much an alternative history -- although it does deviate provocatively from standard fare at times -- as it is a

grand collection of the bits and pieces of fencing lore that have fallen between the cracks of time, and have been otherwise forgotten

or ignored.

More than anything else, Amberger's writing adds a new dimension to fencing's perceived character, the one every fencer thinks he

or she knows. Secret History reminds us that the history of the sword is not merely the accounts and teachings of the Marozzos, Labats,

and Angelos, but that there is a wealth of information beneath an often explored surface.

Amberger covers such diverse topics as the origins of the sabre target area in sport fencing, the dynamics of duelling, a look at

the politics of fencing salles in London in the late 1700s, a study of sword injuries glean from an ancient battle site, and an enthralling

account of the author's own duelling (schalger) experiences while a university student in Germany. All of this wonderful material is

interwoven with numerous accounts of duels throughout history. What more could you ask for?

By the way, I think it's fair to mention that Mr. Amberger's background is as varied as his book's, which may explain, to a

certain degree, why the subject matter of The Secret History of the Sword is so wide ranging. Born in Germany in 1963, Amberger has

studied Latin, English, history, dentistry, Gaelic, American and English literature, journalism, philosophy, and economics. Now a resident of

the United States, he is considered one of the foremost experts on the continuity of Western sword fighting systems. In this capacity, he

has acted as a consultant for New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, and was featured as an expert on the Discovery Channel's mini

series The Deadly Duels. Also, for a number of years, he was the editor/publisher of the highly regarded sword journal Hammerterz

Forum. Today, he is the Special History Editor for Fencers Quarterly Magazine.

There are many curious facets, some opinion, and much entertaining and enlightening reading to be had in this book. By all means,

buy it and read it from cover to cover. Savor it. I loved it. J. Christoph Amberger is one talented writer. Unless your brain is set in

concrete, you won't be disappointed by The Secret History of the Sword.

- Nick Evangelista

VFQ/FQM Founded by Bruce Darling in 1996 - 2007.