Description
Farnol, Jeffrey ‘Epics of The Fancy. A Vision of Old Fighters’ 1928 1st edition. 310-pages. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Co., LTD. Good condition with tight binding, straight, and clean.
Epics of the Fancy: A Vision of Old Fighters is a 1928 non-fiction sports history book by British romantic novelist Jeffery Farnol, published in London by Sampson Low, Marston & Co. Renowned primarily for his Regency-era romance novels and swashbucklers, Farnol—who was an avid boxer himself—channeled his passion for the sport into this volume to chronicle the rich history of prize fighting.
The title refers to “The Fancy,” a historical term used during the Georgian and Regency eras to describe the devoted subculture, fans, and aristocratic patrons of bare-knuckle prize fighting.
The book serves as a detailed retrospective of legendary boxing bouts and the sport’s evolution, particularly in England during the late 1800s and early 1900s. It features chronological, descriptive accounts of iconic, classic matchups.
The narratives cover monumental historical bouts, such as the bare-knuckle wars of William “Bendigo” Thompson vs. Deaf Burke, as well as pivotal transitional and modern-era fights like James J. Corbett vs. John L. Sullivan and Georges Carpentier vs. Jack Dempsey.
Beyond just the round-by-round movement in the ring, Farnol injects his signature character-driven writing style to provide deep biographical insights into the lives, personalities, and backgrounds of the fighters.
The original publication features 27 portrait plates and illustrations depicting the famous combatants and their historical fight locations.
The work is highly regarded by sports historians as a vivid, romanticized, yet meticulously detailed tribute to the pioneer eras of boxing, blending Farnol’s literary flair with actual sports journalism.
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