Virtually no other sport is as rich with tradition and codes of honor as fencing. These conventions have been formed and maintained in European fencing schools since the 15th century. In his "Secrets of the Sword," Baron Bazancourt passes on the best traditions of fencing to an appreciative audience of gentlemen fencers through a series of lectures that take place in an old manor house in the country. Following along, the reader can practically smell the cigars and taste the brandy, both of which were an integral part of these after-dinner talks. Bazancourt's book is an engaging read for devotees of fencing at any level. It offers a fascinating glimpse into a world of fencing studios and drawing rooms of a bygone era, and is a must-read for anyone who wishes to understand how fencing came to be the sport it is today. This edition includes the original illustrations by F. H. Townsend.