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Swords and Swordsmen
This magnificent book tells the story of the evolution of swords, how they were made, how they were used, and the people that used them. It doesn't claim to give comprehensive coverage but instead takes certain surviving examples as landmarks on a fascinating journey through the history of swords. Each is selected because it can be linked to a specific individual, thus telling their story too and giving a human interest. So the journey starts with the sword of Tutankhamun and ends with the swords of J E B Stuart and George Custer. Along the way we take in Henry V, Cromwell and Uesugi Kenshin, and there is the most detailed discussion you'll find anywhere of all of George Washington's swords. The chapters on these specific swords and swordsmen are alternated with more general chapters on the changing technical developments and fashions in swords and their use.
The reader's guide on this historical tour is Mike Loades. Mike has been handling swords most of his life, as a fight arranger, stuntman and historical weapons expert for TV and stage. He considers the sword as a functional weapon, work of art, fashion statement and cultural icon. As much as his profound knowledge of the subject, it is his lifelong passion for swords that comes through on every page. His fascinating text is supported by a lavish wealth of images, many previously unpublished and taken specifically for this book.
The reader's guide on this historical tour is Mike Loades. Mike has been handling swords most of his life, as a fight arranger, stuntman and historical weapons expert for TV and stage. He considers the sword as a functional weapon, work of art, fashion statement and cultural icon. As much as his profound knowledge of the subject, it is his lifelong passion for swords that comes through on every page. His fascinating text is supported by a lavish wealth of images, many previously unpublished and taken specifically for this book.
494 pages, Hardcover
First published October 21, 2010
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287 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
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January 12, 2021Very solid and exceedingly informative history of swords and swordfighting hung off the hooks of real examples. The author's own swordfighting experience really makes this sing. Wide ranging in time (from Tutankhamun to the US Civil War); mostly Western but with one good chapter on Japan including modern sword-making. Heavy on the mechanics rather than the social history, which suited me, though might be a bit niche for general reading.
April 22, 2022
An apt subtitle for this book would be 'A Life with Swords'. Mike Loades did something that very few people would think possible: he took his fascination with ancient weapons and made a career of it. What was even more unusual was that he did this from the 1970s onwards, long before the current interest in historical European martial arts. All this comes out as asides to the main story, which is a history of Western swords (with a single-chapter diversion to Japan), told by taking a single examplar for each period in the history of the sword and examining both the sword and its wielder. So, we have Tutankhamun's khopesh, the Sutton Hoo sword, Henry V's arming sword, and many others. Interwoven through the stories of the ancient swords are Loades's own reminiscences of how he worked with similar swords. For Loades found that one way of parlaying his knowledge of swords and swordfighting into a career was to sell his knowledge to film, TV and theatre companies, acting as a historical consultant and fight arranger. Good work if you can get it, but unreliable. So, to maintain a regular income, he also taught stage fighting at London drama schools. And, talking about the book with my wife, it turns out that Mike Loades taught her stage fighting when she was at East 15 drama school! She was not a natural - during one lesson she unwittingly knocked out her partner. Despite this, Mike Loades remained patient and kind - he was, she says, an excellent teacher.
The book is full of unexpected nuggets of knowledge. Before reading it, I had no idea there was another horse gait, the amble, falling between the walk and the trot. Those breeds of horse that have retained this gait can cover many miles in a day using it and Loades tells us, having ridden these ambling horses, the gait leaves the rider much fresher than having to bounce up and down all day in the trot. Some is speculative, based on Loades' own use of swords. For instance, his speculations on how the Egyptians used the khopesh, hooking shields with the blade's spurs, seem entirely reasonable but we will never know for sure.
Some minor quibbles include his treatment of pattern welding and a lack of engagement with what recent pracitioners of historical European martial arts have deduced about the use of swords when fighting armoured opponents, but overall it is a marvellous book, beautifully illustrated and very highly recommended.
The book is full of unexpected nuggets of knowledge. Before reading it, I had no idea there was another horse gait, the amble, falling between the walk and the trot. Those breeds of horse that have retained this gait can cover many miles in a day using it and Loades tells us, having ridden these ambling horses, the gait leaves the rider much fresher than having to bounce up and down all day in the trot. Some is speculative, based on Loades' own use of swords. For instance, his speculations on how the Egyptians used the khopesh, hooking shields with the blade's spurs, seem entirely reasonable but we will never know for sure.
Some minor quibbles include his treatment of pattern welding and a lack of engagement with what recent pracitioners of historical European martial arts have deduced about the use of swords when fighting armoured opponents, but overall it is a marvellous book, beautifully illustrated and very highly recommended.
November 26, 2021
Great book, I watched some of mike loades' documentaries and found him a truly fascinating man who has such an interesting style filled with personal experience and immense knowledge.
February 11, 2015
After reading Loades's excellent The Longbow, I had to get his Swords & Swordsmen. This book is almost 500 pages long, and I was rapt reading each page of it. Instead of focusing on one version of this weapon, Loades discusses exemplars of various types of swords through time, starting with the sword of Tutankhamun in Egypt all the way through the swords of J.E.B. Stuart and G.A. Custer in the American Civil War. There are 15 chapters all discussing different eras and swords that provide a mountain of insight. The love Loades has for and the practical experience he has with the topic shines through on every page. Just as with The Longbow, you’ll learn about use, construction, the interplay with armor, and much more. Heck, I got the ideas for at least three novels reading this book. I loved it as much as I loved the first.
September 22, 2021
Mike Loades writes in a way that fires the imagination. Few people are as passionate about a subject as Mike Loades is about swords and fewer still can translate that passion into written form. Beyond his writing style, the author brings a wealth of technical expertise and practical experience that makes this book a joy to read. Each sword is given its due diligence in context and through his words, the reader can imagine themselves on the same fields as the men who carried these swords.
August 23, 2019
Informative
This book has a great deal of historical information. The author probably has as much real world knowledge of sword fighting as is possible to obtain in the 21st century-at the very least he has some empirical evidence for his theories and descriptions.
This book has a great deal of historical information. The author probably has as much real world knowledge of sword fighting as is possible to obtain in the 21st century-at the very least he has some empirical evidence for his theories and descriptions.
April 14, 2021
The finest, most extensive and readable book about swords, their making and history, that I have have had the pleasure of encountering. It is a must-read for anyone seriously interested in swords and the historical use of swords. It is exquisitely illustrated.
February 20, 2021
Mostly great, but he should come up to speed on modern HEMA theory. Insisting swords are for bashing plate armor instead of discussing historical half sword technique was somewhat irritating.
September 30, 2012
Sword devotees, fan and scholars all likely have their favourite sword or 'type' of sword. Mike Loades recent submission entitled, 'Swords and Swordsmen' likely has something for everyone! This beautifully presented work features high quality photographs and imagery which accompany a text spanning many boundaries in both time and space. This lovely book takes us on a journey which begins in antiquity with an explorative look at, the swords and sword culture of the ancient Egyptians. The book goes further however, as it offers us a glimpse into many other areas of their lives and culture as well! This is done seamlessly without breaking stride or losing sight of the topic, but rather, weaves elements such as social context into the tapestry of a particular sword culture.
Not unlike a textual Westward expansion, the reader's journey continues onward to Greece and Rome and forward into the Iron Age. Continuing the journey both westward and forward readers are offered a tantalizing view not only of the history and development of the sword but, of the history and development of peoples and cultures. Never losing the sword as the focal point of his work, Mr. Loades incorporates cultural elements which strengthen the readers understanding of how swords effected cultural development at multiple stratospheric levels of societal living. Readers meet the Celts, the Vikings and Crusading Knights as they travel through time, from the Iron Age into (and through), the Mediæval era. As the Mediæval world gives way to the Renaissance, many changes occur with regards to the history and development of the sword. It seems only fitting that at this point in the book, the reader's journey is abruptly changed as well. The journey West is briefly interrupted as the reader is off on an exhilarating foray into the ethnographic edged weapons of the far east.
After a brief but fascinating look at the sword culture and development of the far east, the reader is once again taken westward for an insightful look at the development of honour culture and the dueling ethos. The reader is continually advanced through time (and towards the west) as the rise of dueling weapons such as the rapier, give way to the smallsword and the western world of the past expands to include the Americas. In keeping with the title, this is not only a tome about swords, but also, about the men who wielded them. Readers are offered introduction to many of the great leaders who shaped the world in which we now live. I will not offer the entire "who's who?" list of names but, will rather tease he potential reader by suggesting that you will begin your introductions with Tutankhamun, continue onward, meeting many along the way, until you will meet none other than George Washington, and the journey only continues from there!
If there is any flaw to be found with this writing, it would be, that at just under 500 pages the vast scope of such a work is somewhat 'muted' in the interest of not producing an encylopædic work. The result of this however, is a volume in which, the author makes good use of the briefly allotted chapter size. Descriptions are clear, concise and seldom given to tangents or 'flights of fancy'. While it is apparent throughout, that the author could say a good deal more, the book does not convey any sense that key or important information has been omitted. What does seem apparent (and indeed tantalizing) is that Mr. Loades undoubtedly has within him the capacity to enthrall the reader yet again with future writings. One can only remain hopeful that he will indeed produce future volumes.
As stated at the outset of this review, many historians, scholars and students of the sword, no doubt have their favourites. Those who favour a particular sword, type of sword, or even period of history might find more information in a work dedicated solely to that topic. What readers will be hard pressed to discover elsewhere however, is an author who writes with more passion about their given subject. Mr. Loades is a long standing and respected presenter on historical arms and armour in the AV media realms of film and television. Any who have viewed him in this format have seen his passion, but to convey such passion through the written word is a rare gift indeed! It is refreshing to see Mr. Loades venture into writing and, with such an enjoyable and impressive inaugural edition, one can only hope that he will continue to add the moniker of 'author' to his already impressive resume.
-John Farthing
(This review also submitted on Amazon)
Not unlike a textual Westward expansion, the reader's journey continues onward to Greece and Rome and forward into the Iron Age. Continuing the journey both westward and forward readers are offered a tantalizing view not only of the history and development of the sword but, of the history and development of peoples and cultures. Never losing the sword as the focal point of his work, Mr. Loades incorporates cultural elements which strengthen the readers understanding of how swords effected cultural development at multiple stratospheric levels of societal living. Readers meet the Celts, the Vikings and Crusading Knights as they travel through time, from the Iron Age into (and through), the Mediæval era. As the Mediæval world gives way to the Renaissance, many changes occur with regards to the history and development of the sword. It seems only fitting that at this point in the book, the reader's journey is abruptly changed as well. The journey West is briefly interrupted as the reader is off on an exhilarating foray into the ethnographic edged weapons of the far east.
After a brief but fascinating look at the sword culture and development of the far east, the reader is once again taken westward for an insightful look at the development of honour culture and the dueling ethos. The reader is continually advanced through time (and towards the west) as the rise of dueling weapons such as the rapier, give way to the smallsword and the western world of the past expands to include the Americas. In keeping with the title, this is not only a tome about swords, but also, about the men who wielded them. Readers are offered introduction to many of the great leaders who shaped the world in which we now live. I will not offer the entire "who's who?" list of names but, will rather tease he potential reader by suggesting that you will begin your introductions with Tutankhamun, continue onward, meeting many along the way, until you will meet none other than George Washington, and the journey only continues from there!
If there is any flaw to be found with this writing, it would be, that at just under 500 pages the vast scope of such a work is somewhat 'muted' in the interest of not producing an encylopædic work. The result of this however, is a volume in which, the author makes good use of the briefly allotted chapter size. Descriptions are clear, concise and seldom given to tangents or 'flights of fancy'. While it is apparent throughout, that the author could say a good deal more, the book does not convey any sense that key or important information has been omitted. What does seem apparent (and indeed tantalizing) is that Mr. Loades undoubtedly has within him the capacity to enthrall the reader yet again with future writings. One can only remain hopeful that he will indeed produce future volumes.
As stated at the outset of this review, many historians, scholars and students of the sword, no doubt have their favourites. Those who favour a particular sword, type of sword, or even period of history might find more information in a work dedicated solely to that topic. What readers will be hard pressed to discover elsewhere however, is an author who writes with more passion about their given subject. Mr. Loades is a long standing and respected presenter on historical arms and armour in the AV media realms of film and television. Any who have viewed him in this format have seen his passion, but to convey such passion through the written word is a rare gift indeed! It is refreshing to see Mr. Loades venture into writing and, with such an enjoyable and impressive inaugural edition, one can only hope that he will continue to add the moniker of 'author' to his already impressive resume.
-John Farthing
(This review also submitted on Amazon)
May 5, 2014
This is an outstanding book. I've enjoyed Mike Loades' television programs; his enthusiasm for the subjects he presents on is infectious. I've discovered the same is true with his writing. He manages to explore the subject in great detail without being pedantic. For the sword enthusiast this book is a must have.
August 26, 2013
A thoroughly engrossing and informative read. I learned a immense amount, whilst enjoying the process immensely. A recommended read if the subject is of interest to you.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews