"By the Sword," his engaging, idiosyncratic history, ranges widely across centuries (from its Greek and Roman origins in war to contemporary Olympic sport) and countries.

Mr. Huelle comes from the Baltic seaport of Gdansk, and his writing is deeply rooted in that off-center location and in his city's rich, and highly idiosyncratic, history.

OBITUARIES 39-40 John McNamara A Bronx native who walked every street in the borough and recorded the often idiosyncratic history of each, he was 92.

These tales by a Polish writer, which turn on the longings and workings of memory, are rooted in the highly idiosyncratic history of Gdansk.

This idiosyncratic history of swordplay in combat and sport ranges from ancient Greece to the contemporary Olympics (the author is a five-time British saber champion and a four-time Olympian).

But the complex First District has an idiosyncratic history, and the environment is an overriding issue here.

It was fitting that Cesc Gelabert should close the dance component of "Made in Catalunya," a festival celebrating the rich, idiosyncratic Catalan cultural history.

He also wrote Austral Eden, an idiosyncratic history of Australian architecture, and contributed articles to magazines in Australia and England.

Dusted off in this idiosyncratic history of astronomy during the scientific revolution, they provide an occasion to revisit perennial questions about the relationship between science and religion, reason and faith.

John McNamara, who walked every street in the Bronx and recorded the often idiosyncratic history of each (yes, even Yznaga Place), died on Oct. 15 in the Bronx.