
The Art of Swordsmanship by Hans Leckuchner
By: Jeffrey L. Forgeng (Translator)
Paperback | 16 January 2018
At a Glance
Paperback
$74.75
Aims to ship in 15 to 25 business days
When will this arrive by?
Enter delivery postcode to estimate
Completed in 1482, Johannes Leckuchner's Art of Combat with the "Langes Messer" (Messerfechtkunst) is among the most important documents on the combat arts of the Middle Ages. The Messer was a single-edged, one-handed utility sword peculiar to central Europe, but Leckuchner's techniques apply to cut-and-thrust swords in general: not only is this treatise the single most substantial work on the use of one-handed swords to survive from this period, but it is the most detailed explanation of the two-handed sword techniques of the German "Liechtenauer" school dating back to the 1300s. Leckuchner's lavish manuscript consists of over four hundred illustrations with explanatory text, in which the author, a parish priest, rings the changes on bladework, deceits, and grappling, with techniques ranging from life-or-death escapes from an armed assailant to slapstick moves designed to please the crowd in public fencing matches.
This translation, complete with all illustrations from the manuscript, makes the treatise accessible for the first time since the author's untimely death less than a year after its completion left his major work to be lost for generations. An extensive introduction, notes, and glossary analyze and contextualize the work and clarify its technical content.
JEFFREY L. FORGENG is curator of Arms and Armor and Medieval Art at the Worcester Art Museum, and teaches as Adjunct Professor of History at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
Industry Reviews
A fantastic attempt to make the fecht-buecher increasingly accessible to a wider audience.... What sets this book apart is the contextualisation of the source and the excellent translations. * MEDIEVAL WARFARE *
For anyone really interested in fighting styles and techniques, this is a must-read. * SLINGSHOT *
Forgeng's translation is clear and accessible. His experience not only as a scholar of early swordsmanship, but as a practitioner, is readily apparent. . . . [Forgeng makes] a vital text more widely available for practitioners not only looking to better understand the use of single-handed swords of all types, but also to how those techniques complement other medieval martial practices. * DE RE MILITARI *
ISBN: 9781783272914
ISBN-10: 1783272910
Series: Armour and Weapons
Published: 16th January 2018
Format: Paperback
Language: English
Number of Pages: 481
Audience: Professional and Scholarly
Publisher: Boydell & Brewer Ltd
Country of Publication: GB
Dimensions (cm): 23.5 x 15.5 x 3.5
Weight (kg): 0.74
Shipping
Standard Shipping | Express Shipping | |
---|---|---|
Metro postcodes: | $9.99 | $14.95 |
Regional postcodes: | $9.99 | $14.95 |
Rural postcodes: | $9.99 | $14.95 |
How to return your order
At Booktopia, we offer hassle-free returns in accordance with our returns policy. If you wish to return an item, please get in touch with Booktopia Customer Care.
Additional postage charges may be applicable.
Defective items
If there is a problem with any of the items received for your order then the Booktopia Customer Care team is ready to assist you.
For more info please visit our Help Centre.
You Can Find This Book In
This product is categorised by
- Non-FictionHistoryGeneral & World History
- Non-FictionHistoryEarliest Times to Present DayEarly History from 500 to 1500Medieval History
- Non-FictionSports & RecreationCombat Sports & Self-DefenceFencing
- Non-FictionHistoryRegional & National HistoryEuropean History
- Non-FictionWarfare & DefenceWeapons & Equipment