Castles: A History And Guide

by R. Allen Brown, Michael Prestwich, Charles Coulson

The development of the castle in Europe and the Middle East is examined, with more than two hundred photographs and a gazeteer which includes maps, visiting times, and histories

Genres: History, Nonfiction

192 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1980

Reviews

[Joseph Flake · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book because it showed to me the importance of castles in the middle ages. This was a crucial component of my study of the middle ages. R. Allen Brown also made this book worthwhile me because he integrated pictures of the castles he was mentioning throughout the text.

Brown covered in detail the importance of castles in defending medieval kingdoms, the progression of castles from wooden forts to stone fortresses, and the painstaking construction of medieval castles by the common people of the towns. He showed how their existence was crucial in defending medieval towns, why they were constructed the way and location they were, and how these factors were aimed to give the defenders every possible advantage in medieval battles. He overviewed the importance of sieges to castle warfare, famous castles, and why castles eventually became impractical in warfare. Brown also touched on the history of crusader castles in the middle east. But through all this historical analysis Brown still weaved in the details of individual castles all over Europe and the middle east, from condition to accessibility, to give the reader the option to, if they so choose, visit the castles themselves. All in all this text was an effective history and guide to medieval castles across Europe and the middle east.

[Augustus · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the title suggests, this well illustrated book offers both a history of castle development and a gazetteer suggesting some of the most interesting castles to visit in Europe and the Middle East. The principal author teaches at King's College, London, and the book can be appreciated by both academic and non-academic readers. In the historical section, the author explains methods of castle construction and the principal functions that such structures served over the centuries. Many of the illustrations in this section are in color. In the gazetteer section of the book, the illustrations are black-and-white, but of good quality. This book and its maps offer an excellent guide for travellers who wish to understand castles and who would like to visit some of the best examples in the course of their travels.

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 3 out of 5]

A look at how castles developed and were built as well as their purpose.