DEFEND YOURSELF!: Master-at-Arms Georges Dubois' Street Survival Classic

Formerly published as How to Defend Yourself, this revamped and improved English translation of Master-at-Arms Georges Dubois' early 20th century (circa 1912) classic provides you with everything you need to survive the tough streets of Paris in the years before WW1: How to subdue an attacker with your cane, how to make your own pepper-and-ash pocket defense powder, some key moves from jiu-jitsu, the proper way to conceal a knife, and for the ladies a special dirty trick for keeping wandering hands off of your bustle while riding the Metro. But the fun doesn't stop at kicks to the groin and eye gouging: With great humor and an easy style Dubois also has tips for surviving a fire in your apartment building as well as in a crowded theater before safety regulations rendered them less death-trappy. There are even tips for stopping a runaway horse, exposing the office thief, a hilariously clever means of foiling your local chicken thief, plus a side-splitting security plan aimed at the evil clown who comes to burgle your bungalow while you're just trying to unwind in the fresh country air. There's even a primer on dueling with the epee, since that was something which was bound to bound to impact the average gent in fin-de-siecle Paris.

This all-in-one manual is a true classic of self-defense literature - the best I've encountered, to be frank - and whether you're rounding out your HEMA library or you just want a good read with some solid pointers on how to stay a step ahead of the world's many predatory shysters, this book is for you.