THIS MAN, Felső-Eőry, was an Austro-Hungarian cavalry lieutenant, who crafted a meditative treatise on dueling, less than one generation before the needless & murdersome tragedy of European self-destruction called the First World War.

 

His work offers us hard-won insights for securely and honorably surviving the life-threatening sabre-duels and pistol-duels of his place and time.  Its vignettes of wisdom constitute a savage yet sophisticated philosophical analysis of the contemporary usage of deadly force.  It deserves recognition amongst similar martial arts works by other real men of action, like Döbringer, De Charny, Silver, and Musashi.

 

Interrelated values of bravery, courtesy, ingenuity, martiality, and practicality are all evinced by his fascinating work, serving well to defy and to destroy various smug notions held by manifold modern fencers: For beyond the rivalry of collegial sportsmen is found here the gravity of hostile swordsmen.

 

Finally, it was my grand & great pleasure to serve as editor for this significant work’s only Magyar transcription with English translation, as crafted by my valued and respected peer, the dynamic and talented scholar & fencer, Krisztina Nagy.

 

Thus may good men and women benefit from our work.

 

Jeffrey Hull, Portland, Oregon, 01 February 2016