Barbara Holland guides us lightheartedly through the touchy subject of honor - and how to defend it - in this compulsively readable history of duel...
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Jun 04, 2008
Kagan
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written in a voice I associate with the vapid reporter from harry potter, or one of those "archeology professors" who just happen to be hanging around Pompeii and will tell you where all the seeexxxx happened, with the sleazy glee of someone exposing an extramarital affair.
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Nov 09, 2010
Sam Kabo
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As histories go, this tends rather towards the anecdotal, with good yarns predominating; this has a lot to do with the nature of the material (this is not a subject much adorned with reliable eyewitnesses). Holland can certainly tell a good yarn. The book rolls along easily, is entertaining; there is much snark (not top-shelf snark, but serviceable) at the silliness and brutality of duels, balanced by a strong appreciation of the social reasons for them. At times there's the feeling of a few too
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Aug 22, 2009
Stephanie
rated it:
Both historical and contemporary viewpoints with a heavy dose of social commentary throughout. Humorous, thought provoking, informative and occasionally a bit wide of the mark, nonetheless quite enjoyable. Not at all dry.
You really do need to read all the way through this, the recitals of various famous duels are especially funny and often biting. THe commentary is quite dry and witty, poking fun at the participants, the attitudes and the countries involved impartially.
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You really do need to read all the way through this, the recitals of various famous duels are especially funny and often biting. THe commentary is quite dry and witty, poking fun at the participants, the attitudes and the countries involved impartially.
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Aug 13, 2009
Sandra
rated it: 
This is a fantastic history -- enlightening, startling, amusing.
Sandra Gulland
Author of the Josephine B. Trilogy and Mistress of the Sun
Website: http://www.sandragulland.com/
Blog: http://sandragulland.blogspot.com/
Sandra Gulland
Author of the Josephine B. Trilogy and Mistress of the Sun
Website: http://www.sandragulland.com/
Blog: http://sandragulland.blogspot.com/
May 13, 2010
Ted
rated it:
Killjoys may take issue with the author's breezy tone, but this is supposed to be a fun book, and it is. If you want to read something by a stodgy historian, look elsewhere. This one contains loads of amusing anecdotes and juicy trivia. For example, who knew that future President James Monroe considered challenging then-President John Adams to a duel? And I hadn't known that the Hamilton-Burr duel took place right where Hamilton's eldest son had been killed in a duel three years earlier.
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Aug 08, 2010
Kristopher
rated it:
Holland writes very well. This book was about a fascinating subject and she did a great job with it. I particularly liked the point she made toward the end, and I feel that her idea would have a huge impact upon today's society. All in all a really well-written book.
Oct 14, 2008
g026r
rated it: 
A little too Ameri-centric (OK, far too Ameri-centric for a book that bills itself as a general history of dueling), a little too much unsubstantiated opinion in the closing chapters, and a little too flippant and breezy in tone. Picked it up from the discount table, and frankly I think I was overcharged.
Jul 08, 2008
Brandon
rated it: 
I loved taking anecdotes from the book and relating them to my journalism class because they were hilarious, especially the one about the dog who challenged a dude to a duel.
May 18, 2008
Leonard
rated it:
Highly amusing and very interesting history of dueling. Aimed at a mass audience, this contains some shocking facts and some grimly amusing anecdotes.
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