“Like swordplay itself, By the Sword is elegant, accurate, romantic, and full of brio—the definitive study, hugely readable, of man’s most deadly art.”—Simon Winchester With a new Preface by the author Napoleon fenced. So did Shakespeare, Karl Marx, Grace Kelly, and President Truman, who as a schoolboy would practice fencing with Bess—his future wife— when the two of them returned home from school. Lincoln was a canny dueler. Ignatius Loyola challenged a man to a duel for denying Christ’s divinity (and won). Less successful, but no less enthusiastic, was Mussolini, who would tell his wife he was “off to get spaghetti,” their code to avoid alarming the children. By the Sword is an epic history of sword fighting—a science, an art, and, for many, a religion that began at the dawn of civilization in ancient Egypt and has been an obsession for mankind ever since. With wit and insight, Richard Cohen gives us an engrossing history of the world via the sword. Praise for By the Sword “Touché! While scrupulous and informed about its subject, Richard Cohen’s book is about more than swordplay. It reads at times like an alternative social history of the West.” —Sebastian Faulks “In writing By the Sword , [Cohen] has shown that he is as skilled with the pen as he is with the sword.” — The New York Times “Irresistible . . . extraordinary . . . vivid and hugely enjoyable.” — The Economist “A virtual encyclopedia on the subject of sword fighting.” — San Francisco Chronicle “Literate, learned, and, beg pardon, razor-sharp . . . a pleasure for practitioners, and a rewarding entertainment for the armchair swashbuckler.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Hope and Healing for FamiliesOut of his own experience and the experience of many of those he has served in his counseling practice, Richard Cohen sets out a step-by-step plan that offers a path toward renewed family relationships grounded in love, faith and mutual respect."Richard is movingly candid about the brokenness in his own family life, and he's not afraid to get down in the trenches and cry, mourn and laugh with everyone else who struggles. This book offers sound practical advice for healing family relationships."Joseph Nicolosi, author of Reparative Therapy of Male Homosexuality and Preventing Homosexuality: A Parent's Guide"This book helped us go from shock and disbelief to an understanding of what happened to our son who experiences same-sex attractions. It showed us how to develop an action plan to help heal the wounds of his heart . . . and gave us real hope."Bob & Sue"We all want the best for our children. Please read this book and follow Richard's suggestions for building a healthy parent-child relationship, one based on unconditional love and mutual respect."Regina Griggs, national director, PFOX"I enthusiastically recommend Gay Children, Straight Parents as a must-read for every parent facing the difficult discovery of their child's homosexuality. Richard's compassionate approach relieves the stigma and shame often associated with a loved-one's homosexual struggle."Janelle M. Hallman, LPC"A helpful resource for parents who are intentional about loving their children well."Katherine M. Allen, LPC and director, Sought Out, Inc."It is with gratitude to Richard for filling so many voids in the world of healing same-sex attraction, and for his continuing leadership and distinctive insights, that I highly recommend this long-awaited text."Arthur Goldberg, codirector, JONAH, and president, PATH"Words cannot express the gratitude that we feel in our hearts for the incredible enlightenment that we have received from Gay Children, Straight Parents. This book has changed the life of our family and helped our daughter heal from same-sex attractions."Michael & Linda