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The Duel: A History of Duelling
Baldick, Robert, Duel, A History
212 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1965
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About the author
Robert Baldick
78 books7 followersRobert Baldick was an English scholar of French literature, writer, joint editor of the Penguin Classics series with Betty Radice, and a well-known translator. He was a Fellow of Pembroke College, Oxford.
He wrote eight books including biographies of Joris-Karl Huysmans, Frederick Le Maitre and Henry Murger and a history of the Siege of Paris.
In addition, Baldick edited and translated The Goncourt Journals and a number of the classics of French literature including works by Gustave Flaubert, Chateaubriand, Jean-Paul Sartre, Jules Verne, and Henri Barbusse, as well as a number of novels by Georges Simenon.
He wrote eight books including biographies of Joris-Karl Huysmans, Frederick Le Maitre and Henry Murger and a history of the Siege of Paris.
In addition, Baldick edited and translated The Goncourt Journals and a number of the classics of French literature including works by Gustave Flaubert, Chateaubriand, Jean-Paul Sartre, Jules Verne, and Henri Barbusse, as well as a number of novels by Georges Simenon.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
September 3, 2008
This is a wonderfully readable history, a mixture of dueling lore as well as accounts of famous duels. There were strict codes that governed dueling, and Baldick recounts the evolution of dueling through the centuries, examining how it developed as new weapons were employed, as well as changes in the legal status of dueling.
Baldick includes many accounts of the most famous duels in Britain, Russia, France, and elsewhere, including what is undoubtedly America's most famous duel between Hamilton and Burr. Then there were duels involving members of the aristocracy such as the Duke of York (George III's second son), famous lovers such as Casanova, military men such as the Duke of Wellington,and (my favorite group) literary duelists such as William Brinsley Sheridan, Alexander Pushkin, and Alexandre Dumas.
It will come as no surprise that dueling was extremely popular in the American South, or that many politicians and publishers were given to dueling. Even Abraham Lincoln was challenged to a duel by broadsword, though he managed to intimidate his opponent so much before the duel by hacking high limbs off a tree, thus demonstrating his greatly superior reach, that the duel was called off. There were even "petticoat duels" between women.
Ultimately, the author uses dueling as a lens to examine how matters of honor were resolved over the centuries. The reasons for the decline and ultimate outlawing of dueling are also examined. All in all, the history of the duel makes for fascinating reading.
My copy of this book dates from the 1970's, but I believe the book was republished in the late 90's as well. The author was a Fellow at Pembroke College in Cambridge.
Baldick includes many accounts of the most famous duels in Britain, Russia, France, and elsewhere, including what is undoubtedly America's most famous duel between Hamilton and Burr. Then there were duels involving members of the aristocracy such as the Duke of York (George III's second son), famous lovers such as Casanova, military men such as the Duke of Wellington,and (my favorite group) literary duelists such as William Brinsley Sheridan, Alexander Pushkin, and Alexandre Dumas.
It will come as no surprise that dueling was extremely popular in the American South, or that many politicians and publishers were given to dueling. Even Abraham Lincoln was challenged to a duel by broadsword, though he managed to intimidate his opponent so much before the duel by hacking high limbs off a tree, thus demonstrating his greatly superior reach, that the duel was called off. There were even "petticoat duels" between women.
Ultimately, the author uses dueling as a lens to examine how matters of honor were resolved over the centuries. The reasons for the decline and ultimate outlawing of dueling are also examined. All in all, the history of the duel makes for fascinating reading.
My copy of this book dates from the 1970's, but I believe the book was republished in the late 90's as well. The author was a Fellow at Pembroke College in Cambridge.
May 8, 2023
A rather broad treatise on the history of duels. This cleared up some questions I had about the role of seconds in duels--a point upon which I had some confusion. It turns out that the role of the seconds varied, depending upon what country the duel took place in as well as the time period.
Originally, these were to serve as mediators between the two parties in trying to negotiate a non-violent resolution or in the case where this was not possible, to ensure that the engagement was fair and the duelists abided by the rules. Often duels were averted because of the efforts of these mediators/seconds.
However, at certain times a second would actually fight the other second, or would step up and fight if their 'first' was killed. One account tells of a duelist who dispatched his opponent, his opponent's second, and then his opponent's third.
Often, duels would be fought over the slightest of pretexts such as a jostle in a crowded theatre, a perceived insult or slight. Sometimes over politics or over a woman or an insult given to a woman. Sometimes, friends would be obliged to fight because of some off-hand remark, and they felt it incumbent to fight to avoid the ridicule of society.
It was not uncommon for a duelist to spare the life of a downed foe, but this book points out that the Italian version of this act often included permanently maiming or crippling the downed opponent.
Originally, these were to serve as mediators between the two parties in trying to negotiate a non-violent resolution or in the case where this was not possible, to ensure that the engagement was fair and the duelists abided by the rules. Often duels were averted because of the efforts of these mediators/seconds.
However, at certain times a second would actually fight the other second, or would step up and fight if their 'first' was killed. One account tells of a duelist who dispatched his opponent, his opponent's second, and then his opponent's third.
Often, duels would be fought over the slightest of pretexts such as a jostle in a crowded theatre, a perceived insult or slight. Sometimes over politics or over a woman or an insult given to a woman. Sometimes, friends would be obliged to fight because of some off-hand remark, and they felt it incumbent to fight to avoid the ridicule of society.
It was not uncommon for a duelist to spare the life of a downed foe, but this book points out that the Italian version of this act often included permanently maiming or crippling the downed opponent.
September 27, 2019
Interesting and anecdotal history of dueling. Enjoyed it!
previously-owned
September 21, 2025Eric read this book and it wasn’t a keeper.
August 10, 2015
tl;dr - a dated historical reference, good for when wikipedia goes down
There are a lot of anecdotes which arose from 18th and 19th c duels in France, England, and the United States, with a handful from other centuries and European locations. It was a fun read, but if you want scholarship you'll need to look elsewhere. And many of the facts he presents, even if believed accurate when written in 1965, are now well out of date. If you like reading history that has itself become historic, this works. Otherwise, as much as I enjoyed reading a book that didn't feel like it would fall apart - the inadequacies of modern bindings and modern paper are made painfully clear when you hold this book - you can do better.
There are a lot of anecdotes which arose from 18th and 19th c duels in France, England, and the United States, with a handful from other centuries and European locations. It was a fun read, but if you want scholarship you'll need to look elsewhere. And many of the facts he presents, even if believed accurate when written in 1965, are now well out of date. If you like reading history that has itself become historic, this works. Otherwise, as much as I enjoyed reading a book that didn't feel like it would fall apart - the inadequacies of modern bindings and modern paper are made painfully clear when you hold this book - you can do better.
February 24, 2016
Lots of interesting anecdotes here, and I loved the illustrations. It got a little dry at times though.
March 3, 2016
Lacking in depth certainly, but plenty of great anecdotes.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews