The Sword Does Not Jest

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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 pretense of hiding the author's hero worship of his subject, but the style is saga-like, entertaining and worth the read.

Tropes used in The Sword Does Not Jest include:

• Anticlimax: Charles was killed by a stray shot:

His fate was destined to a foreign strand 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.