Hello!
Please think of this as a library catalogue of sorts, for book reviews/recommendations/critiques, as made on SFI!
The aim here is to help people find threads in the reference library forums, for the category of Non Fiction Books.
This thread will be updated periodically.
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Cataloging - the following links are sorted by an approximate category. eg. "Vikings" - with the relevant titles listed underneath it. I understand not all books are easily categorised in this way, and some may be listed under more than one category, as applicable.
- If there is no current category existing for it, it will be found under the General List.
- If more books around the same subject become listed, a category will be added.
- Where a title starts with A, or The, the book will be listed alphabetically by the following word instead. e.g. The Knights Templar is listed under K.
So far, the lists are categorized as...
- General List
- Ancient Greece & Her Enemies
- Axes, Knives, & Other Non-Sword Weapons
- China
- Ewart Oakeshott
- Historical European Swordsmanship
- Japan
- Medieval Europe
- Mongols
- Persia & The Middle East
- Picts, Celts, Bronze Age
- Renaissance Europe
- Rome: The Republic, The Empire, & Her Enemies
- Saxons, Normans
- The Scots
- Vikings
Updated 17th, May, 2014
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GENERAL LIST
"Armas blancas en Espaòa" - Rafael Ocete Rubio - in Spanish
"Arms and Armor Annual, vol. 1" - Robert Held, ed. Follett Publishing Company, 1973 - ISBN 0695804073
"Arms and Armour: Traditional Weapons of India" - E. Jaiwant Paul Lustre Press, 2005 - ISBN 8174363408
"Bandits" by Eric Hobsbawm
Charge of the Light Brigade 1st Hand Accounts - 33 soldier's accounts. (Victorian Wars Forum) (Not a publication, but an interesting resource)
"English Swordsmanship, Volume 1" by Steve Hand
"The Face Of Battle" by Keegan
"A Glossary Of The Construction, Decoration, & Use Of Arms And Armor..." (title abridged!) - George Cameron Stone.
"The Book Of The Sword" - Richard F. Burton
"Books On Strategy" Forumites compose lists of their favorite books.
“By the Sword” by Cohen
"The Fighting Weapons Of The Korean Martial Arts" - In Hyuk Suh & Jane Hallander.
"In The Service Of The Tsar Against Napoleon" by Denis Davidov
"Living The Martial Way" by Forrest E.Morgan
Article: Migration Period Sword article in Man at Arms ("Swords of the Germanic Migration Period in Britain" by Logan Thompson - Man at Arms volume 25, number 4.
Article:Military History Saber Article - Chris Szabo details on where to find it
"The Modern Swordsman", by Fred Hutchinson Paladin Press, Boulder, CO. Copyright 1998
"Native American Weapons" - Colin F. Taylor
"Naval Edged Weapons In the Age of Fighting Sail, 1775-1865" by Sarah C. Wolfe
Osprey Books also see this thread: Osprey Books - are they reliable?
"Small Arms of the Sea Services," by Robert H. Rankin (Colonel, USMC) N. Flayderman & Co., Inc. New Milford, CT, 1972 (1st edition) - ISBN: 0-910598-10-X
"Swords and Hilt Weapons" - Prion Books Ltd.
"Saber Exercise" by George S. Patton, US War Department - 1914.
"The Shape of Sword Blades" by Mr. John Latham
"Swords: An Artist's Devotion." - Ben Boos Candlewick Press
"The Theory and Practice of Fencing" by J. Martinez
"The Weapons And Fighting Arts Of Indonesia" - Donn F. Draeger.
"Weapon: A Visual History of Arms and Armor" by DK Publishing.
"Warfare in Atlantic Africa 1500-1800" by John K. Thornton
Query: Thermopylae? - a recommendation of resources made by SFI members
Additional Queries: (titles with no current review, no additional information/recommendation):
Bo Staff by Tadashi Yamashita
The Medieval Gaelic Warrior - no further information given
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ANCIENT GREECE & HER ENEMIES
"Alexander: 334 - 323 BCE" by Warry Osprey
"The Ancient Greeks" by Sekunda Osprey
"Celtic Warrior: 300 BC - AD 100" by Stephen Allen. Osprey
"Greek Hoplite: 480 - 323 BCE" by Sekunda Osprey
"Marathon: 490 BCE" by Sekunda Osprey
"Mycenaean Citadels: c. 1350 - 1200 BCE" by Nic Fields Osprey
"The Persian Army: 560 - 330 BC" by Sekunda Osprey
"The Persian Expedition" by Xenophon
"Republican Roman Army: 200 - 104 BC" by Sekunda Osprey
"The Scythians: 700 - 300 BCE" by Cernenko Osprey
"The Spartan Army" by Sekunda Osprey
"The Thracians: 700 BCE - 46 CE" by Webber Osprey
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AXES, KNIVES, & OTHER NON-SWORD WEAPONS
"Ancient Northern European Axes"
"The Axe Book"
"Axes Of War And Power" by James Douglas Gamble - 2002 Tanro Company
"Bowie and Big Knife Fighting System." by Dwight McLemore
"The Halberd & Other European Polearms: 1300 - 1650" by George A. Snook, M.D.
"La navaja clásica" - Arturo Sanchez de Vivir - in Spanish.
"Manual of the Baratero" by James Loriega
"Throwing Tomahawks" by Joseph Lee & Jim Townsend
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CHINA
"Ancient Chinese Armies: 1500 - 200 BCE" by Peers Osprey
"The Art Of Chinese Swordsmanship" by Zhong Yun.
"The Art of War" (discussion of different interpretations, by SFI members)
"Broadsword:Chinese Weapon Of Self Defense" by Eric Lee
"Chinese Martial Arts Training Manuals: A Historical Survey" - Brian Kennedy, Elizabeth Guo North Atlantic Books, 2005 - ISBN 978-1556435577
"Chinese Swordsmanship: The Yang Family Taiji Jian Tradition" by Scott M. Rodell, Virginia: Seven Stars, 2003.
"Imperial Chinese Armies: 200 BCE - 589 CE" by Peers Osprey
"Imperial Chinese Armies: 590 - 1260" by Chris Peers Osprey
"Late Imperial Chinese Armies: 1520 - 1840" by Chris Peers Osprey
"Medieval Chinese Armies: 1260 - 1520" by C. J. Peers Osprey
"Weapons in Ancient China" - Yang HongScience Press, 1992 - ISBN 1 880132 03 6
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EWART OAKESHOTT
"The Archeology Of Weapons" - Ewart Oakeshott
"European Weapons And Armour" by Ewart Oakeshott
"Fighting Men" by Henry Treece & Ewart Oakshott
"A Knight And His Horse" by Ewart Oakeshott
"A Knight And His Weapons" by Ewart Oakeshott
"A Knight In Battle" by Ewart Oakeshott
"Records Of The Medieval Sword" - Ewart Oakeshott
"A Sword In Hand" by Ewart Oakeshott
"The Sword In The Age Of Chivalry" - Ewart Oakeshott
"Swords Of The Viking Age" by Peirce, Oakeshott, & Jones.
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HISTORICAL EUROPEAN SWORDSMANSHIP
*note to readers - some of the following links on HES take the reader to threads in the HES section of the Sword Forum.
Broad and Small Sword Exercise by Thomas Stephens ca. 1843 HES
Captain A. Gordon's Treatise on Sword, Bayonet, and Pike of 1805 HES
Eigentliche Beschreibung des Fechtens ihm einfachen Rappir - 1619 HES
English Martial Arts by Terry Brown - 2002 HES
"Highland Swordsmanship: Techniques of the Scottish Swordmasters" - Mark Rector.
"Italian Rapier Combat: Capo Ferro's Gran Simulacro" edited by Jared Kirby, Greenhill Books, 2004
"Master of Defense, The Works of George Silver" by Paul Wagner
"The Medieval Art Of Swordsmanship - A Facsimile & Translation Of Europe's Oldest Personal Combat Treatise: Royal Armouries MS I.33" translated by Jeffrey L. Forgeng, in partnership with The Royal Armouries.
"Medieval Combat: A Fifteenth Century Illustrated Manual Of Swordfighting & Close-Quarter Combat" by Hans Talhoffer. (transl. & ed. - Mark Rector)
"Medieval Swordsmanship: Illustrated Methods & Techniques" by John Clements
Mr. Wilson's "Art of Defence" HES
"Renaissance Swordsmanship: The Illustrated Use Of Rapiers & Cut-and-Thrust Swords" - John Clements
"Schools and Masters of Fence" by E. Castle
"The School of Fencing" by Domenico Angelo
"The Secret History Of The Sword" - J. Christoph Amberger
"Secrets Of German Medieval Swordsmanship: Sigmund Ringeck's Commentaries On Johannes Liechtenauer's Verse"
Skokloster collection HES
"SPADA: An Anthology of Swordsmanship" - Stephen Hand, ed. (A compendium of essays related to the reconstruction of historical European swordsmanship) Chivalry Bookshelf, 2002 (Vol 1 - ISBN 1891448374), 2005 (Vol 2 - ISBN 1891448358)
"The Sword and the Centuries" - F.A. Hutton FSA
Thomas Page's Use of the Broad Sword, 1746 HES
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JAPAN
"Ashigaru: 1467 - 1649" by Turnbull Osprey
"The Book Of Five Rings" by Miamoto Musashi. A query on the different translations.
"Classical Weaponry of Japan: Special Weapons and Tactics of the Martial Arts" - Serge Mol Kodansha International, 2003 - ISBN 4770029411
"The Connoisseur's Book of Japanese Swords" by Kokan Nagayama / "The Craft of the Japanese Sword" by Leon & Hiroko Kapp and Yoshindo Yoshihara
"The Cutting Edge: Japanese Swords In The British Museum"
"Feudalism In Japan" by Peter Duus
"Flashing Steel: Mastering Eishin-Ryu Swordsmanship" by Masayuki Shimabukuro and Leonard J. Pellman
"Japanese Swordsmanship: Technique And Practice" by Gordon Warner & Donn F. Draeger
"Japanese Warrior Monks: 949 - 1603" by Turnbull Osprey
Japanese mythology etc. (recommendations and links)
"Mugai Ryu" by Darrell Max Craig.
"Naked Blade - A Manual Of Samurai Swordsmanship" by Toshishiro Obata.
"Ninja: 1460 - 1650" by Turnbull Osprey
"Ninjitsu: History & Tradition" by Hatsumi
"Ryoma - Life Of A Renaissance Samurai" by Hillsborough
Article:"Sakamoto Ryoma: The Indespensible Nobody" by Romulus Hillsborough - Sword Forum Article.
"Samurai: The Weapons And Spirit Of The Japanese Warrior" by Clive Sinclaire
"Samurai Heraldry" by Stephen Turnbull Osprey
"Samurai Invasion: Japan's Korean War 1592 -1598" by Stephen Turnbull
"Secrets Of The Samurai - The Martial Arts Of Feudal Japan" by Oscar Ratti & Adele Westbrook.
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MEDIEVAL EUROPE
"Agincourt: 1415" by Bennett Osprey
"Armies Of Medieval Russia: 750 - 1250" by David Nicolle Osprey
"Arms & Armor of the Crusading Era - David Nicolle information sought
"The Armourer & His Craft" by Charles Ffoulkes
"The Churburg Armoury - Historic Arms & Armour In The Castle Churburg" - Carlo Paggiarino Publisher: Hans Prunner Editore, 2006 - ISBN: 9788895191003 (Medieval/Renaissance)
"Der mittelalterliche Reiterschild: Historische Entwicklung von 975 bis 1350" - Jan Kohlmorgen
(The medieval knight shield: historical development from 975 until 1350 - in German)
"English Longbowman: 1330 - 1515" by Bartlett Osprey
"French Armies Of The Hundred Years War" by Nicolle Osprey
"French Medieval Armies: 1000 - 1300" by Nicolle Osprey
"German Medieval Armies: 1000 - 1300" by Gravett & Turner Osprey
"German Medieval Armies: 1300 - 1500" by Gravett Osprey
"The Halberd & Other European Polearms: 1300 - 1650" by George A. Snook, M.D.
"Italian Medieval Armies: 1000 - 1300" by Nicolle Osprey
"Kleidung & Waffen der Füh- und Hochgotik" - von Ulrich, Lehnart (German publication on Clothing and Weapons from Early and High Gothic 1150-1320)
"A Knight And His Horse" by Ewart Oakeshott
"A Knight And His Weapons" by Ewart Oakeshott
"A Knight In Battle" by Ewart Oakeshott
"The Knight in History" by Frances Gies
"The Knights Templar" by Stephen Howarth
Article:"The Normans: Their history, arms and tactics" by Patrick Kelly
"Lake Peipus: 1242" by Nicolle Osprey
"Companion to Medieval Arms and Armour" - David Nicolle, ed. Boydell Press, 2002 - ISBN 978051158723
"Medieval Costume, Armour, and Weapons" by Eduard Wagner, Zoroslava Drobna, and Jan Durdik
"The Medieval Machine: The Industrial Revolution Of The Middle Ages" by Jean Gimpel
"Medieval Russian Armies: 1250 - 1500" by V. Shpakovsky & D. Nicolle Osprey
"Medieval Scandinavian Armies: 1100 - 1300" by D. Lindholm & D. Nicolle Osprey
"Medieval Scandinavian Armies: 1300 - 1500" by D. Lindholm & D. Nicolle Osprey
"The Medieval Sword in the Modern World: An examination of the renaissance of the medieval sword" by Michael "Tinker" Pearce Self-publication, ebook/print
"Medieval Warfare Source Book, vol. 1: Warfare in Western Christendom" - David Nicolle Brockhampton Press, 1999 (original edition, 1995) - ISBN 1860198899
(In the same link
"Medieval Warfare Source Book, vol. 2: Christian Europe and its Neighbors" - David Nicolle Arms and Armour Press, 1996 - ISBN 185409307x
"Orleans: 1429" by David Nicolle Osprey
"The Sword In The Age Of Chivalry" - Ewart Oakeshott
"Techniques of Medieval Armor Reproduction - The 14th Century" by Brian R. Price.
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MONGOLS
"Kalka River: 1223" by Nicolle & Shpakovsky Osprey
"The Mongols" by Turnbull Osprey
"Mongol Warrior: 1200 - 1350" by Turnbull Osprey
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PERSIA & THE MIDDLE EAST
"Ancient Armies Of The Middle East" by Wise Osprey
"Arms & Armor From Iran: The Bronze Age To The End Of The Qajar Period" by Manouchehr Moshtagh Khorasani
"Chevaux et Cavaliers Arabes" - publisher: Gallimard (French publication on Horses and Arab riders)
"Honar Fuladsazi Dar Iran" by Parviz Tananoli and James Allen ("The art of steel making in Iran" )
"New Kingdom Egypt" by Healy Osprey
"Palace of Gold and Light: Treasures from the Topkapi, Istanbul." (four authors.)
"The Persian Army: 560 - 330 BC" by Sekunda Osprey
"The Scythians: 700 - 300 BCE" by Cernenko Osprey
"Turkish Arms" - E.G. Astvatsaturjan - in Russian.
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PICTS, CELTS, BRONZE AGE
"Celtic Warrior: 300 BC - AD 100" by Stephen Allen. Osprey
"The End of the Bronze Age" by Robert Drews.
"Mycenaean Citadels: c. 1350 - 1200 BCE" by Nic Fields Osprey
"Pictish Warrior: AD 297 - 841" by Paul Wagner. Osprey
"The Barbarian Kings" by Lionel Casson
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RENAISSANCE EUROPE
"The Churburg Armoury - Historic Arms & Armour In The Castle Churburg" - Carlo Paggiarino Publisher: Hans Prunner Editore, 2006 - ISBN: 9788895191003 (Medieval/Renaissance)
Doppelsoldner/Landsknechts (SFI poster's query)
"European Weapons And Armour" by Ewart Oakeshott
"The Halberd & Other European Polearms: 1300 - 1650" by Geoarge A. Snook, M.D.
"Italian Rapier Combat: Capo Ferro's Gran Simulacro" edited by Jared Kirby, Greenhill Books, 2004
"Renaissance Armies: 1480 - 1650" by George Gush.
"Renaissance Swordsmanship: The Illustrated Use Of Rapiers & Cut-and-Thrust Swords" - John Clements
"The Martial Arts Of Renaissance Europe" - Sydney Anglo
"Master of Defense, The Works of George Silver" by Paul Wagner
"Pavia 1525" - Angus Konstam - Osprey Publications, 1996
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ROME: THE REPUBLIC, THE EMPIRE, & HER ENEMIES
"Adrianople: 378 CE" by MacDowall. Osprey
"Attila & The Nomad Hordes" by Nicolle Osprey
"Cannae: 216 BC" by Healy Osprey
"Cannae: The Experience Of Battle In The Second Punic War" by Gregory Daly
"Celtic Warrior: 300 BC - AD 100" by Stephen Allen. Osprey
"The Conquest Of Gaul" by Julius Caesar
"Early Roman Armies" by Sekunda & Northwood Osprey
"Germanic Warrior: 236 - 568 AD" by Simon MacDowall. Osprey
"Gladiators: 100 BC - 200 AD" by Stephen Wisdom Osprey
"Late Roman Cavalryman: 236 - 565 AD" by MacDowall Osprey
"Late Roman Infantryman: 236 - 565 AD" by MacDowall. Osprey
"Pictish Warrior: AD 297 - 841" by Paul Wagner. Osprey
"Republican Roman Army: 200 - 104 BC" by Sekunda Osprey
"Rubicon: The Last Years of the Roman Republic" by Tom Holland
"The Sarmatians: 600 BCE - 450 CE" by Brzezinski & Mielczarek Osprey
"The Thracians: 700 BCE - 46 CE" by Webber Osprey
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SAXONS, NORMANS
"Anglo-Saxon England" by Laing
"Anglo-Saxon Thegn: 449 - 1066 AD" - Mark Harrison - Osprey
"Anglo-Saxon Weapons & Warfare" - Richard Underwood
"Barbarian Warriors: Saxons, Vikings & Normans" - D. & S. Shadrake.
"The English Warrior: From Earliest Times to 1066" - Stephen Pollington.
"Hastings: 1066" by Gravett Osprey
"Norman Knight 950 - 1204 AD" - Christopher Gravett - Osprey
"Saxon, Viking, & Norman" - Terence Wise - Osprey
"The Normans" - David Nicolle - Osprey
"The Normans in Sicily" - J. J. Norwich.
"The Sword in Anglo-Saxon England" - H.R. Ellis Davidson.
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THE SCOTS
Advice on good books about baskethilted swords (SFI poster's query)
"Highland Swordsmanship: Techniques of the Scottish Swordmasters" - Mark Rector.
"Scottish Swords from the Battlefield at Culloden" Lord Archibald Campbell, 1894. Edited and Annotated by E. Andrew Mowbray, 1971.
"Swords and Sword Makers of England and Scotland" - Richard H. Bezdek
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VIKINGS
"A History of the Vikings" - Gwyn Jones.
"The Barbarian Kings" by Lionel Casson
"Barbarian Warriors: Saxons, Vikings & Normans" - D. & S. Shadrake.
"The Vikings" - Ian Heath. Osprey
"The Vikings" - Jonathan Wooding.
"The Vikings" by Robert Wernick
"The Vikings And Their Origins" - David M. Wilson.
"The Vikings - Recreated In Colour Photographs" by Nurmann, Schulze, & Verhulsdonk
"Swords Of The Viking Age" - Ian Peirce, Ewart Oakeshott, & Ian Jones
"Viking" - Susan M. Margeson. D.K./Eyewitness
"The Vikings" by Johannes Brondsted
"Viking Weapons & Warfare" - J. Kim Siddorn
"Viking Hersir: 793 - 1066 CE" - Mark Harrison Osprey
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Bookmarks