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About Swords: An Artist's Devotion
Product Description Be smitten by the sword! An extraordinary young artist brings the history of this noble weapon — and its skillful masters — into stunningly sharp relief.Brave men and women have taken up the sword since ages of old, and a fascination with this formidable weapon grips dedicated followers to this day. Here is a celebration of swords and swordsmen that spans time and place — from ancient warriors such as Beowulf to medieval knights; from stealthy ninja and samurai to legendary maidens of war. Illustrated with breathtaking intricacy, SWORDS reflects the passion of a true devotee, offering lavish background details on design and use as well as exquisite spreads showcasing specimens in all their shining glory.Book Details:Format: HardcoverPublication Date: 9/9/2008Pages: 96Reading Level: Age 10 and Up From School Library Journal Grade 6 Up—This absorbing, large-format collection of sketches, paintings, and historical notes on sword craft is not called an artist's devotion for nothing. Boos's treatment of his subject is reverential and his artwork is outstanding, combining meticulous attention to detail and a designer's sense for layout. The spare text provides just enough information but generally allows the illustrations to speak for themselves. Each chapter covers a different period or place in the history of the sword, including the Iron and Bronze Ages, the Middle Ages in Europe, Japanese samurai and ninjas, the Silla knights of Korea, African sword craft, Islamic designs, and more. Although the author, a former video-game designer, "would have it known that [his] qualifications are modest," he manages to portray an incredible variety of styles, from hilts to blades to the intricate metalwork that makes each sword not just a weapon but also a work of art. It's easy to get caught up in his enthusiasm, and the right reader will spend hours poring over every loving detail. Give this to fans of history, art, or swordplay fantasies.— Rebecca Donnelly, Loma Colorado Public Library, Rio Rancho, NM Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Review Exemplars of the smithy’s art are depicted close to life-size, from blades hardy folk used against ‘bandits and beasts’ to imperial weapons thought to have had latent spirits of their own. —New York Times Book Review Laden with lavish visuals and minimal text. This volume is not an in-depth study of the history of swords or warfare, but a visual orgy of beautiful well-wrought swords used throughout the ages by various cultures. —Library Media Connection This beautifully illustrated book gives concise descriptions on the history of swords, including usage and cultures…of special interest are the artistic elements of each culture’s swords…detailed drawings for many of the swords show the inner workings of sword anatomy, one of the book’s highlights. —VOYA Every nick, notch, decorative motif and gleaming highlight rendered in lovingly realistic detail. —Kirkus Reviews Boos’s treatment of his subject is reverential and his artwork is outstanding…an incredible variety of styles, from hilts to blades to the intricate metalwork that makes each sword not just a weapon but also a work of art. It’s easy to get caught up in his enthusiasm, and the right reader will spend hours poring over every loving detail. Give this to fans of history, art, or swordplay fantasies. —School Library Journal Lavishly illustrated…the book’s biggest surprise is this: as captured in Boos’ exquisite digital illustrations, the deadly weapons are undeniably, even delicately, beautiful. —Family Fun A true devotee of swords, Ben Boos passionately brings the history of this noble weapon and its skillful masters to life, offering lavish background details and exquisite, full-color spreads illuminating swords in all their shining glory. —Science Fiction and Fantasy Advance Magazine Supplement, featured as "Top YA Fiction" on the back cover As a sw
