Galactic Space Hamster Posted October 29, 2007 Posted October 29, 2007 In 1862 a merchant called David Landale shot his bank manager dead in a duel. In this non-fiction work his descendant James Landale tells us the story, and a riveting story it is too! The story suffers nothing for being a true tale and can match any fiction. It has the hero Mr Landale, the villain in the form of Mr Morgan for the booing off. This, as the cliche goes, is a real page turner! The story of how and why David Landale got into one of the last Duels, and then what happened afterwards is a great story well told. Along with the tale of the Duel the book deals with the history of the duel: how it began, and why did it's practice fade? Why did seemingly rational human beings feel the need to resolve the smallest conflicts by standing at dawn trying to kill each other? It's packed full of interesting, fun, and informative historical details. Along with the history are tales of other duels that took place. Some of them are even funny in a macabre way. One of my favourites from the book is this: "In 1823, the future lord Cardigan stole and subsequently married the wife of his best friend, Captain Fredrick Johnstone. He sent a message to the now divorced Johnstone 'Sir, having done you the greatest injury that one man can do another, I think that it is incumbent upon me to offer you the satisfaction which on gentleman owes another in such circumstances' Johnstone told the messenger: 'Tell Lord Cardigan that he has already given me satisfaction: The satisfaction of having removed the most damned bad tempered and extravagant bitch in the kingdom!'" The book is jam packed with stories and wonderful facts. It's the kind of book that has you putting down the book every five minuets because you're busting to tell somebody some amazing fact you just read or about a duel you read about or an astounding event. This, along with the main story makes it a must read. Quote
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