Description
A fascinating history of the cultural and political impact of duelling.
For centuries, duelling played an integral role in the preservation of the aristocratic order in Europe, defying attempts by both church and state to ban the practice. Moreover, the romance and drama of the duel has made it an enduring fixture in films, literature, and the theatre.
In The Duel in European History, renowned historian Victor Kiernan writes with his characteristic wit and insight of duelling's evolution from its medieval origins – when it was regarded as a badge of rank - to the early twentieth century, by which time it was seen as an irrational anachronism. In doing so, he shows how the duelling tradition was something unique to Europe and its colonies, and, in its contribution to the development of the officer corps, played a key part in shaping European military power.
Drawing on a vast range of historical and cultural sources, this is the definitive account of a violent ritual that continues to fascinate even today.
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World. All Languages
Endorsements
'Stuffed with excellent anecdotes.' - Christopher Hill, New York Review of Books
'V. G. Kiernan’s great study' - James Guida, New Yorker
Author Biography
Victor Kiernan (1913-2009) ranks among Britain's most distinguished historians. After a fellowship at Trinity College, Cambridge, and a long period spent teaching in India, he joined the History Department at the University of Edinburgh, where he served as professor of modern history from 1970 until his retirement. Over the course of his life he authored such works as The Lords of Human Kind; America: From White Settlement to World Hegemony; Shakespeare: Poet and Citizen and numerous others, as well as translating two volumes of Urdu poetry.
Zed Books Ltd
Zed Books is a critical and dynamic publisher, committed to increasing awareness of important international issues and to promoting diversity, alternative voices and progressive social change. We publish on politics, development, gender, the environment and economics for a global audience of students, academics, activist and general readers. Run as a workers’ collective, Zed Books aims to operate in an ethical and environmentally sustainable way. Autumn 2016 catalogue
View all titlesBibliographic Information
- Publisher ZED Books
- Publication Date July 2016
- Orginal LanguageEnglish
- ISBN/Identifier 9781783608386
- Publication Country or regionUnited Kingdom
- FormatPaperback
- Primary Price 14.99 GBP
- Pages368
- ReadershipGeneral
- Publish StatusUnpublished
- Edition2nd
- IllustrationYes
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