I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book (I skipped around alot, it is extremely dense), and I agree with the many others who have stated that this is a ground-breaking encyclopedic tour of the history of fencing. I also wholeheartedly agree that historical fencing should be viewed as a full-fledged martial art ("fencing" is not synonymous with "modern sport fencing").

I do have problems with many of his conclusions, which seem to lack a martial or fencing perspective. Mr. Anglo is certainly a serious researcher and historian, but he's clearly no fencer. He seems to miss a main point, namely, that such martial arts were never entirely taught via treatises, and the lack of treatises or the failure of specific types of notation within existing treatises does not at all imply that the art didn't exist, wasn't effective, or wasn't taught.

This is a very interesting book, with some great pictures, diagrams, and summaries of very important historical fencing sources. Just be wary of the author's conclusions, interpretations, and overall perspective.

3.5 / 5

Anglo's groundbreaking work is definitely one of the most influential treatises on Renaissance combat ever written. Seldom does an author write so in depth and cover so much material.

Martial Arts of Renaissance Europe is fascinating from the first page; Anglo pens right toward the meat of the topic. Rather than reiterating what other authors have said and said again, Anglo only briefly mentions those sources widely available or quoted, instead preferring to bring light to those relatively unknown sources with which few are familiar, but which deserve much more acclaim. This book is not a light read by any standards; it should keep the most erudite of scholars busy for days. The further one reads into this book, the more one realizes he didn't know.

Anglo makes every effort to cram information into every page, but does so with the witty flair of a seasoned writer who knows how to keep his audience interested. He provides ample photographs, scans, copies, and illustrations to underscore his study of Renaissance fighting, but does not drown the reader in unnecessary artwork. He covers more facets of Renaissance martial arts than most other authors even mention, from the methods of instruction to the evolution of combat. Affording a separate chapter to each style of personal defense - swordsmanship, barefisted brawling, polearm use, and the like - Anglo opens up a door to history that has never been opened before, and many anxious scholars are graciously pouring through.

As he points out himself, the history of Renaissance martial arts is one that is very much neglected, both by historians and by martial artists. Historians generally shy away from warfare and fighting, and, apart from mentioning the outcome of a few major battles, barely acknowledge the existence of violence. Many martial artists tend to focus on technique, without much regard for history. Anglo has broken the barrier, and gave those scholars - both martial and historical - who crave to know a means through which to do it.

Overall, this book is excellent. It is a unique and thorough view of the Renaissance that has yet to be matched. Martial Arts of Renaissance Europebelongs in the library of martial artists of Western and Eastern heritages alike: required reading for any fan of martial history.

One of the greatest problems facing modern enthusiasts of our European martial history is the availability (or lack there of) of scholarly study from the viewpoint of the period in which these arts were practiced. Too often they are approached from a standpoint of their applications in sport fencing or stage combat. Anglo has tried very hard to separate himself from these ties and look at the arts from their position in history, and while he occasionally falls shy, in most instances he succeeds remarkably well.
As a practitioner of medieval combat I was pleased to see many of the theories and postulations many of us have espoused borne out and explained in a scholarly text. The case Anglo makes for a systematic basis for training well before the Renaissance is well stated and helps to legitimize the work reenactors are performing today. As others have stated, this is not a "how to" manual, but is rather an indispensable tool to assist in researching masters and understanding the environment in which these skills were used. I have informed all my students and friends in the field that this book needs to be in their collection. I am certain I will reference it many times in the future.

This book has very good coverage of Anglo-American trade developement in the early to mid nineteenth century. It contains information not found elsewhere. Originally published in the 1920's there are resources, for example U.S. Government Repositories, which are now availiable. The only negative is that some of the citations in the British Parliamentary Papers have proven impossible to run to earth, though there are problems with the Papers and it may not be Buck's Fault. I am purchasing a copy for my shelf.