The Sword Does Not Jest

By Frans Bengtson, author of The Long Ships. The Sword Does Not Jest is an obscure but well-written biography of Charles XII. As with many biographies, it makes no pretence of hiding the author's hero worship of his subject, but the style is saga-like, entertaining and worth the read.

This poem provides examples of: "His fate was destined to a foreign strand
 * Anticlimax: Charles was killed by a stray shot:

A petty fortress and a dubious hand

He left the name at which the world grew pale

To paint a moral or adorn a tale."


 * Badass Army: Sweden has one.
 * Badass Family: The Vasas, Sweden's royal family.
 * Bodyguarding a Badass: The Drabants regiment.
 * Four Star Badass: Charles
 * Proud Warrior Race: Swedes, at least as described by Bengtson. At that time it would have been accurate.
 * Real Men Love Jesus: Charles
 * The Rival: Peter the Great
 * Swedes with Cool Muskets
 * Teen Genius: Charles
 * Warrior Prince: Charles. One of the last European monarchs to take part in hand-to-hand combat.