No sword and no historical style of swordsmanship is as romanticized as is the rapier of the Italian Renaissance. From the quarrels, brawls and duels of Shakespeare to the raucous abandon of the Three Muskateers, the rapier has long been associated with swashbuckling elegance and rugged excitement.Today, thousands of fencers, stage combatants, martial artists and reenactors are exploring the world of historical technique as recorded by the famous fencing masters of Italy. At Renaissance Faires all across the world tens of thousands carry a rapier at their hip, thuogh few have been able to explore its use. William Wilson, the renowned founder of the Tattershall Schoool of Defence beings the Italian rapier to vivid life with clear, easy-to-understand text and more than 200 photographs. He successfully dispels many common miconceptions about the weapon, discussing its history, purpose and fundamentals of use. For the first time techniques of the most famous Italian masters such as Capo Ferro, Salvatore Fabris, and Camillo Agrippa are distilled into lessons, drills and principles simple enough for a beginner to follow.