The Gladiatory Art: The Lives, Writings, & Techniques of the Eighteenth Century Stage Gladiators. A Sourcebook. - Hardcoverby Ben Miller (Author) Readers today are familiar with the gladiators of ancient Rome who fought to the death in the Coliseum. Very few, however, are aware of the resurgence of bloody gladiatorial combat which took place in 18th century Britain, in which the so called "Masters of the Noble Science of Defence", full of fire and bravado, demonstrated their expertise with sharp broadswords, daggers, shields, quarterstaffs, flails, two handed swords, and