"A New System of Sword Exercise for Infantry" by Sir Richard Francis Burton Sir Richard Francis Burton was a British explorer, writer, orientalist scholar, and soldier. His career gave him the experience and expertise he needed to pen this book of proposed training updates for the British infantry. Breaking his ideas down into a three-part system of training without a sword, training with one, and different types of sparring techniques, the book was a useful tool for soldiers and aspiring infantrymen.