Fencing – The Bell Bookshop

Titan of the Thames

Emma — Thu, 08 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

William Grenfell, Lord Desborough, was, for many, the epitome of the perfect English gentleman: an exceptional sportsman, a dedicated public servant and a devoted husband and father.

Grenfell’s astounding sporting achievements, from climbing mountains to swimming the basin of the Niagara Falls twice, from rowing the English Channel and winning the Amateur Punting Championship for three years consecutively, to representing Great Britain in fencing, produced his deep-rooted belief in the importance of sport. It wasn’t surprising therefore that he became the driving force behind the 1908 London Olympic Games, an enormous success despite being staged with only two years’ notice.

A surprisingly modern public figure, Grenfell was elected as an MP before going on to hold a prodigious array of local, national and international roles: mayor of Maidenhead, leading the London Chamber of Commerce, promoting aviation, establishing modern policing, and serving as chairman of the Thames Conservancy. Although Grenfell’s public life was successful, his family was struck by tragedy, aged six he lost his father and he and his wife Ettie suffered the loss of two sons in the First World War and their third in a motor accident. Despite this, their home, Taplow Court, was a place for entertaining and had been a focal point for the Souls, including notable politicians such as A. J. Balfour and the young Winston Churchill, as well as writers like H. G. Wells and Henry James.

In Titan of the Thames, Nairne and Williams disentangle the myths surrounding this fascinating man who spans the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and have pieced together a compelling biography of a figure whose story should have been told many years ago.

Sister to a Star

Emma — Thu, 05 May 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Lights, camera … kidnap!

‘Dreams of stardom; sibling rivalry & a gripping ending, Sister to a Star has it all & I gobbled up the entire book’ BONKERS ABOUT BOOKS

Evie is forever crossing swords with her twin. While she practises her after-school fencing, Tallulah is winning movie auditions.

Neither of them could have imagined how their worlds would collide, but when Tallulah goes to Hollywood Evie goes too – as her sister’s identical stand-in.

But that changes, when the film needs some all-action sword-play. Soon Evie’s the one enjoying the limelight – that is, until Tallulah goes missing …

An action-packed sibling adventure of twin rivalry, glamour and skulduggery set against the bright lights of Hollywood!
Written by ex-Olympic fencer, Eloise Smith
Features a diverse ensemble cast of brave and spirited kids you can’t help but root for!

Fencing

Emma — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 00:00:00 +0000

Know the Game Fencing is the perfect introduction to thesport for all ages, whether you are a keen club player or beginner. Itis packed with expert text, clear illustrations and photographs of theprofessionals in action.

The book includes:

Equipment and clothing – step by step throuh the different weapon parts and protective clothing worn
Basic movements – from On Guard to Lunge, Fleche and Balestra
Scoring – how to keep score
The skills – step-by-step guide to all the basic skills, from holding the foil to parries, attacks and defences
Variations – including fencing with foil, epee and sabre

The Know the Game series is firmly established as thedefinitive introduction to a wide range of sports and games. Written bythe experts, you can be sure that they contain everything you need toknow to take part.