I will admit that I read this mostly because of the reference in the Princess Bride to Capo Ferro. And since I'm not a fencer or a historical European martial arts practitioner, it's difficult to evaluate this document as a historical artifact or a good training manual. that said it was really interesting to see what an early instruction manual looked like, how the attempted to show dynamic techniques in the static pictures, and the wide variety of fencing styles (fencing with sword and shield! fencing with sword and dagger! fencing with sword and cape!). On the whole a short and interesting read.

Italian Rapier Combat: Capo Ferro's 'grand Simulacro' is a reprint and translation of the original work from 1610 by Ridolfo Capo Ferro. This English translation edited by Jared Kirby was originally released in 2004. This reformat and re-release due out 30th Nov 2021 from Pen & Sword books on their Greenhill imprint is 148 pages and will be available in hardcover format.

Written more than 400 years ago, this is still a famous and classic work dedicated to the Italian rapier. The language has been updated to more modern vernacular and includes an updated glossary. The book includes a table of contents, but no index. The first part of the work covers general concepts, glossary, positions, and theory. The second part, containing the plates (see cover), show two dueling gentlemen in various stages of nudity, presumably to better show anatomy. Many of the plates are quite gruesome with rapiers & daggers sticking out of various body parts.

I feel quite certain that the book's value lies more in the historical importance, and unlike many modern treatises, will have limited practical use for actually *learning* rapier fencing to any meaningful degree. I was most fascinated by the facsimile plates showing the illustrations and bookplates from the original 1610 edition.

This would be a good selection for library acquisition, historical re-enactors (SCA and similar), and readers interested in historical armed combat. Many such extant Renaissance manuscripts have value also for costumers and historians, but the illustrations in this volume show nude or semi-nude combatants, so that isn't really applicable here. It might be of some interest for calligraphers and artists, but I would recommend looking at the content first, since the text makes up the largest portion.

Five stars for the historical value. Quite gruesome content, so sensitive readers should be aware of that and proceed accordingly.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

The authors did a very good job of interpreting the original manuscript, and while I appreciate the inclusion of illustration from the original manuscript, these can sometimes be difficult to interpret. One thing I do wish was that the authors had included photographs of them performing the guards and strikes as well as perhaps including a series portraying the plays. Overall a great book on one of my favorite subjects!

Originally written and published in 1610 by Ridolfo Caro Ferro, a new edition with an introduction and glossary came out in 2004. This later version forms the basis of this edition and has a new introduction and a revised glossary. Also the language has been modernised in this new edition to make it more accessible.
Ridolfo Caro Ferro’s book is considered to be the definitive work on the Italian rapier. The language is very evocative of the time it was written, but is concise and much more modern and vivid than you’d expect. Ridolfo sets out a statement of intent early on in the text - “There is nothing in the world that Nature…regards with greater foresight and more diligence than the preservation of self.” The aim of fencing, he writes, is the “defence of oneself” and that defence is its main aim. He begins with the basics and describes the various different parts of the rapier’s blade, the necessary positions of parts of the body and the finer points of striking. One section is entitled “Methods that one must hold against a brutal man” which sounds almost casually terrifying but Ridolfo’s advice is reassuring.
The original illustrative plates presented in the book show the anatomy of a rapier duel with two semi-naked 17th century Italian gentlemen squaring off. The pictures gradually become quite brutal.
I know nothing about fencing but the nobility of the art-form comes across vividly though Ridolfo’s writing. The translation is skilful and sympathetic to the intent of the original text. This may be ancient knowledge but it’s not in any way outdated and this book is still held in high regard to this day, and this beautiful edition is the most definitive version available.

Thanks to Pen & Sword and NetGalley for allowing me to view an advanced reading copy of this title.