Knights and Armour: With Internet Links

by Lesley Sims

Rich in historical detail, with information about how knights lived both in war and peace, the importance of chivalry and how their armour and horses helped them to win many battles. Also contains a fact file with details of famous knights and a glossary of terms associated with knights and armour. Internet-links to recommended websites via the Usborne Quicklinks Website.

96 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2006

About the author

Lesley dreamed of being a writer, but studied law as her mother insisted she had "something to fall back on". Since joining Usborne Publishing, she has written and edited hundreds of books, from funny rhyming stories to an award-winning history book. Nowadays, she is often found recording books, too, in Usborne's very own recording studio.

Reviews

[Amanda Matthews]

This is well-worth the read for anyone interested in medieval times and knights. It is very thorough, has a lot of pictures, and is easy to read. It covers battle gear, horses, weapons, shields and heraldry, battle tactics, the crusades, knights’ activities (both in battle and in pleasures), myths and likelihood, and much more. It gives a solid “first glimpse” into knighthood and provides information in case the readers wishes to read further. This is a book I want in my personal collection!

Note: some younger readers may be disturbed because this is a book of war and gore. The pictures are primarily old art replicas, but they still do contain images with blood and killing.

[Alice]

Did you know that a knight's horse was the most important and most expensive part of his fighting gear? This destrier, or warhorse, had to be strong enough to carry a knight in full armor as well as agile enough to move around quickly during battle. This reference book is full of unique information about knights and their armor. The pages are well organized with a variety of fonts and sizes as well as information displayed in a way that is appealing to the eye. Illustrations of pictures, sketches, drawings and paintings are included to provide visual appeal while learning.

[Matt]

This was a really informative book about the world of medieval knights and the role they played in society. It is aimed more for children and young teens, but it is informative and interesting nonetheless. I learnt some new things about the period that I didn't previously know.

[Rhapsody]

For someone without any knowledge about armor or general medieval warfare, it was a decent book. I knew most of it, but a lot of the more specific terminology was new to me. A good introduction to the topic, with plenty of illustrations and informative but not overwhelming 2-page spreads on each topic.

[Samantha]

Great overview of information for kids (or even adults) interested in Knights and the Middle Ages. This would be a helpful resource to those beginning to get interested in historical fiction but not understanding the jargon. Includes essays on famous battles and knights to give readers additional subjects to look into as their interest is piqued.