The Duel in European History

Honour and the Reign of Aristocracy

Victor Kiernan, David Blackbourn

$170

Hardback

Not in-store but you can order this
How long will it take?

Availability Information

We source books from suppliers in Australia and overseas. For books we don't currently have in stock, the time it takes to get them from our suppliers can vary widely - from a few days to a few months - so we check each book with each supplier to determine the expected time it will take to be supplied to us.

We then advise you accordingly. If the time taken to get any book is too long for you, you can let us know and we will cancel or adjust your order, and refund as required.

To find out the anticipated arrival time for specific items prior to ordering, please contact us by phone or email:

Phone +61 2 9264 3111, or 1800 4 BOOKS (1800 4 26657) if outside Sydney:
option 1 Abbey's Bookshop (Crime, History, Science, Kids & more) • info@abbeys.com.au
option 2 Language Book Centre (ESL & Foreign Languages) • language@abbeys.com.au
option 3 Galaxy Bookshop (Sci-fi, Fantasy, Romance, Graphic Novels) • sf@galaxybooks.com.au

QTY:

English

Zed Books Ltd
15 July 2016

European history; Sociology: customs & traditions

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.

By: Victor Kiernan
Introduction by: David Blackbourn
Imprint: Zed Books Ltd
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Edition: 2nd Revised edition
Dimensions: Height: 216mm, Width: 135mm, Spine: 140mm
Weight: 617g
ISBN: 9781783608393
ISBN 10: 1783608390
Pages: 368
Publication Date: 15 July 2016
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Introduction by David Blackbourn 1. The Problem of the Duel 2. Ancient and Primitive Analogies 3. Europe of the Knights 4. Emergence of the Modern Duel 5. The Spread of the Duel 6. The Duel at its Apogee 7. Grudges and Grievances 8. Procedure and Etiquette 9. The Psychology of Honour 10. Honour and Enlightenment 11. Decline and Rebirth 12. Britain: The Final Decades 13. Walter Scott and Honour 14. Later British Writers 15. Western Europe: The Last Hundred Years 16. Under the Old Monarchies 17. Europe Overseas 18. Epilogue and Retrospect Works Cited Index

Victor Kiernan (1913–2009) ranks among Britain's most distinguished historians. 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.

Reviews for The Duel in European History: Honour and the Reign of Aristocracy

One can scarcely fail to be impressed by the width of Kiernan’s knowledge. This is a very entertaining and thought-provoking volume … it continues to be an excellent introduction to the duel.' * EuropeNow * Stuffed with excellent anecdotes. * New York Review of Books * V. G. Kiernan’s great study. * The New Yorker *