An Effective Supplement to a Classic Work
In Thibault Rapier by James Colton lays out the goal of his book in the third paragraph of the preface. “This book, then, is a humble attempt to… distill the techniques he (Thibault) describes into a manageable summary.” This book is a modern supplement to the 15th century classic, Gerard Thibault d’Anvers’s “Academie de l’Espee”.
Colton: Short and Precise
At just over 100 pages, this book is a very quick read. Each topic proceeds from one to the next in a logical progression that will look familiar to any modern student. Most of the material deals with rapier versus rapier, but there is a small section summarizing Thibault’s views on facing other weapons. The terminology and the language used are clear and consistent. Colton has made some effort to present concepts in a way that will allow experienced students from other styles to quickly make connections with concepts that they already know.
The few drawings and diagrams are clear and understandable. There are no photographs, but that is probably for the best. The relatively small size of the book would limit the resolution of any photos the author may have wanted to add. The limited number of pictures is in my opinion the greatest weakness of the text. There are no images in the appendix describing selected exercises and this sometimes requires the reader to reference previous sections to get clarity on the instructions.
Worth The Read?
Overall, Colton archives the goal he stated in the preface. This book is a good resource for anyone looking to study the original work of Thibault. It does not replace the need for a copy of the original, but instead gives a more modern presentation to assist in understanding.