Roy Judge, Folklore, Vol. 109, 1998
"a genuinely pioneering book which both gathers together all that has been said in the past and also offers a secure base from which future scholarship can begin." ... "[the author's] delight in his subject is infectious."
Synopsis
One of the most dramatic styles of folk dance performance in Europe still practised is the sword dance. Contrary to romantic supposition, the historical record shows it to be a relatively modern phenomenon. Widely distributed from the 15th century on, it has been popular at different times in towns and villages in many parts of Europe. This study surveys the history of European styles of linked sword dancing based on the evidence of primary sources in ten or more languages. This breadth of reference should make it of interest to students of the history of European dance, popular performance and festival customs, as well as for those interested in sword dancing itself.
