The Duelling Handbook, 1829

Profoundly embedded in our cultural consciousness, the art of duelling evokes images of a dramatic past, where the laws of courtesy, civility, and honor were enforced by the end of a rapier at the first rays of dawn. In this engrossing historical record of the codes and conduct of the duel — originally written in 1829 as "The Only Approved Guide Through All the Stages of a Quarrel" — every aspect of the arcane practice is brought to fascinating light. Offering authentic advice on such subjects as withdrawal of challenges, weapons, distance, and the fate of survivors, The Duelling Handbook also brims with vivid anecdotes recounting duels between brothers, duels between friends, and those arising from disagreements over religion, women, gambling, and other volatile standpoints. A genuine historical treasure, Hamilton's unequaled guidebook will captivate — and enlighten — a wide audience of readers, especially those intrigued by the moral and sociological issues surrounding the art of the duel.