To the Hilt: Unveiling the Daring History of Sword Swallowing in a Thrilling New Book

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Photo courtesy of Dan Meyer and Marc Hartzman

Aired; January 29th, 2025.

To the Hilt: A sword swallower’s history of sword swallowing will soon hit the shelves by the end of February. Co-Authors Dan Meyer and Marc Hartzman were inspired to write this book through their interest in sword swallowing.

For Dan, he became interested in sword swallowing in 1997.  After he met the sword swallower, George the Giant, he learned there were only 12 in the world and began researching.

“I founded the Swords Followers Association International, started collecting all these bios and all this research, putting it on our website, and I decided that needed to go into a book, “said Meyer.

Dan reached out to Marc seven years ago to write the book. The book will share the historical significance of sword swallowing.

“As far as we can tell, sword swallowing may have started about 4000 years ago, about 2000 B .C. back in ancient India. There’s some information, some evidence that it might have been in Mesopotamia as well…It was actually it came to the United States about 1810, 1819, 1820 and then didn’t really become popular in the United States until 1893 at the Chicago World’s Fair. And then after that, circuses and sideshows started having sword swallowers and it’s become kind of a little bit more popular since then, “said Meyer.

For those who read the book, Dan and Marc puts numerous disclaimers to not attempt any of the acts done in the book.

“We do mention in several places throughout the book that no one should try this at home. So, if they’re a kid reading this book, they should they should not be inspired to try this. In fact, we talk about the fact that most books try to inspire you and this one, we strongly suggest that you do not get inspired, “said Hartzman.

To the hilt, will also discuss myths and misconceptions about sword swallowing.

“I’ve pulled a sword out of Dan’s throat myself. And people swallow other things also to help prove that that this is where that there’s no handle for that blade to go up in. No trickery at all, “said Hartzman.