Sentiment Six: Twelve Swashbucklers Every Fencer Should Read

1. The Three Musketeers, Alexandre Dumas.

D'Artagnan and his three comrades tangle with Cardinal Richelieu and Milady's fiendish plots.

2. The Scarlet Pimpernel, Baroness Emma Orczy.

The daring Scarlet Pimpernel rescues French aristocrats from the guillotine during the Reign of Terror.

3. The Prisoner of Zenda, Anthony Hope.

Rudolf Rassendyll is forced to play the King of Ruritania while rescuing the real one from kidnapping and murder.

4. The Mark of Zorro, John McCarthy.

The Masked Zorro defends the poor and oppressed against the tyranny of the Spanish California's aristocracy.

5. Scaramouche, Rafael Sabatini.

Andre-Louis Moreau learns fencing, among may other things, in order to avenge his friend's murder by the sinister Comte La Tour-D'Abzy.

6. The Princess Bride, William Goldman.

Fencing, Fighting, Torture, Revenge, Chases, Escapes, Wild Beasts, Giants, Miracles, True Love.

7. Captain Alatriste, Arturo Perez-Reverte.

Mercenary Captain Alatriste versus the Inquisition and assassins in 17th century Spain.

8. Captain Blood, Rafael Sabatini.

The Adventures of an English doctor who is taken as a slave to Jamaica, escapes, and becomes a feared pirate captain. Argh!

9. Zorro, Isabel Allende.

The origin story of the masked hero, mixed Spanish nobles, Indians, and Pirates.

10. The Fencing Master, Arturo Perez-Reverte.

Don Jaime, an old honor-bound fencing master, is searching his whole life for the "Unstoppable Thrust". Unknowingly, he is thrown into a murderous political plot when he agrees to teach a mysterious and talented woman.

11. Kidnapped, Robert Louis Stevenson.

Davie Balfour is sold by his wicked uncle, kidnapped by smugglers, and rescued by a rebel Jacobite.

12. Peter Pan, James Barrie.

The eternal youth who lives in Never-never-Land and battles villainous Captain Hook.

Apparently, is can't be a good swashbuckler without a duel or two, a pretty face, some several wicked plots or so and something to do with Spain, pirates, or the aristocracy. Have fun reading, and may these be inspiration for your fencing.

Good Fencing!

and read the books, don't just watch the movies.