"The history of the sword is the history of humanity." With these words, British author, Victorian scholar, and world traveler Richard Burton begins his eloquent and exceptionally erudite history of the "Queen of Weapons." Spanning the centuries and a wide range of cultures, Burton's rich and elegant prose illuminates the sword as both armament and potent symbol. For nearly all peoples of the world, the sword embodied the spirit of chivalry, symbolized justice and martyrdom and represented courage and freedom. In battle, it served universally as a deadly offensive weapon. Drawing on a wealth of literary, archaeological, anthropological, linguistic, and other sources, the author traces the sword's origins, from its birth as a charred and sharpened stick, through its diverse stages of development, to its full growth in the early Roman Empire. Recounting man's long association with this weapon, the author describes in brilliant detail: The ages of wood, bone and born The appearance of stone swords and exotic weapons such as the boomerang The ages of copper and alloys such as bronze and brass — used in producing the long, narrow blades of rapiers The Iron Age during which the Viking sword of carbonized iron took shape — a weapon whose form would set the standard for the next thousand years. Enhanced by nearly 300 excellent line drawings, the text provides an incredible wealth of detailed data about the sword and its variations: sabre, broadsword, cutlass, scimitar, rapier, foil, and a host of other arms, including dirks, daggers, throwing knives, flails, and much more. Military and social historians, scholars and students of weaponry, as well as armchair adventurers will find this volume a fascinating, abundantly illustrated and highly readable account of this potent symbol of power.

The Book of the Sword: With 293 Illustrations (Dover Military History, Weapons, Armor)

History

Burton, Sir Richard F.

Americas

Dover Publications

Two Trips to Gorilla Land and the Cataracts of the Congo

Sir Richard Francis Burton (1821 - 1890) was asked in 1849 by the Indian Navy and the Royal Geographical Society of Great Britain to investigate the region of the unknown Somali Country in East Africa. In 1850 The East India Company gave permission for an expedition to ascertain the productive resources in the region. After many obstacles and delays the expedition began in 1854. Burton discusses "the Nzadi or lower Congo River, from the mouth to the Yellala or main rapids, the gate by which the mighty stream, emerging from the plateau of Inner Africa, goes to its long home, the Atlantic." He goes on to discuss the lack of accurate information about the tribes in Africa and states that the problems on the Gold Coast could have been avoided if England had been properly informed. He sees England's involvement on the west coast of Africa as a failure.

Literature & Fiction

World Literature

Book Jungle

This Is A New Release Of The Original 1922 Edition.

The Hindu Art of Love

Literary

Literary Licensing, LLC

A Personal Narrative of a Pilgrimage to Al-Medinah and Meccah, written in 1855, is British author and explorer Richard Burton's account of his own attempt at a Hajj, or Muslim journey to Mecca. Though not Muslim himself, Burton's years spent in British India as a soldier in the army familiarized him with Muslim customs and behavior. He came up with the idea of making a Hajj while traveling disguised among Sindhi Muslims, and prepared and studied extensively for the trip, even getting circumcised to further prevent discovery. While Burton was not the first non-Muslim to make the journey to Mecca, his account is the most well-known of the time, and it is the work which made him famous. Presented here as two volumes in one, this harrowing true tale will delight fans of Burton and his work. British author, soldier, and adventurer CAPTAIN SIR RICHARD FRANCIS BURTON (1821-1890)was notoriously remembered for his scandalously unexpurgated translations of The Arabian Nights and the Kama Sutra, which scandalized and titillated Victorian readers. Other works of his include the translation of classic Hindu stories of magic and romance, Vikram and the Vampire or Tales of Hindu Devilry, journals of his globetrotting exploits through Africa and the Middle East, such as The Lake Regions of Central Africa, and his history on the sword, The Book of the Sword, written out of his love for fencing and weaponry.

Personal Narrative of a Pilgrimage to Al-Madinah and Meccah (2 Volumes in 1)

Biographies & Memoirs

Historical

Cosimo Classics

Sir Richard F. Burton's famous memoirs documenting his making of the Hajj. As one of the first non-Muslim Europeans to make the pilgrimage through the Middle East, Burton's account was tremendously influential. His time and adventures in the region have captivated readers.

Personal Narrative of a Pilgrimage to Al-Madinah & Meccah

Religion & Spirituality

Islam

CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

Epílogo a las mil y una noches

Laertes editorial, S.L.

Vikram and the Vampire

Genre Fiction

Independently published

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