A Knight and His Weapons
By Ewart Oakshott
Although
this book was probably intended for reference, it was an
interesting read and, for me, was quite a discovery. I had
been looking a long time for a book that gave an overview of
what weapons a knight used and how he used them--and that's
just what A Night and His Weapons did. Many
readers who aren't interested in this sort of thing may find
this book dull or would prefer to skip it altogether but
what it does it does well.
Ewart Oakshott
describes all of the major knightly weapons in detail as
well as telling how they each developed. He also gives
interesting historical anecdotes and background, describing
many medieval battles and how weaponry affected their
outcomes.
He writes from the
standpoint of a collector of swords and a re-enactor as well
as a historian, giving his writing an interesting firsthand
flavor. On occasion it also becomes evident that he is
British, like when he mentions the pattern of a cricket
shoe's sole as if it were common knowledge.
This book could be useful
for someone studying the Middle Ages, but is excellent for
anybody who really wants to know about a knight's weaponry
and its use. This is the only concise and interesting book
on the topic I've seen.
John, age 16
