Robert Barr was an British novelist, born at Glasgow, Scotland. He was headmaster of the Central School, Windsor, Ontario, and in 1876 became a member of the staff of the "Detroit Free Press," in which he appeared as "Luke Sharp." In 1881 he moved to London, to establish the weekly English edition of the "Free Press," In 1892 founded "The Idler" magazine, choosing Jerome K. Jerome as his collaborator, retiring from the coeditorship in 1895. "The Sword Maker" is a historical romance, set in the Rhenish Palatinates. The Emperor is old, fat, lax and indolent, caring only for his flagon of wine, and his nobles have waxed in power, levying taxes so heavy commerce has come to a standstill in Frankfort. An attempt by merchants to run the blockade on the river and reach Cologne has been destroyed, with the Robber Barons sinking the ships and taking the goods. An appeal to the seven Electors to depose the Emperor and install his son in his stead has proven futile, as the Electors benefit from things as they are, and the Prince has been imprisoned by an Archbishop to forestall further efforts. The guild of ironworkers makes fine swords, and suffers like the rest from the standstill in commerce. Revolution is brewing . . .