Duelling in America by Ben C. Truman, Steven R. Wood (1993, Paperback, Reprint)

The author, a journalist was born in 1835 (died 1919). He intelligently approaches the social pressures that force men of that time and before, who know better, to put their name and reputations above their physical existence. The wordy prose of antiquity was 'cleaned up' for us 'moderns'. I did not know that Californians had more duels than the rest of the nation put together. His explanation of a frontier America differing from Europe due to background and backdrop caused earthier confrontations, sometimes with a sense of humor.

Mostly european duelists were of higher social status (aristocrats, Military Officers)also American duelists were(politicians, editors, Military Officers, Governers, future Presidents) but exceptions and variations on duels in the United States were made by common people and freed slaves, all with their own seperate methods. A great resource book and historical study.