Castle
A History of the Buildings that Shaped Medieval Britain
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4.3 • 6 Ratings
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- £2.99
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- £2.99
Publisher Description
Beginning with their introduction in the eleventh century, and ending with their widespread abandonment in the seventeenth, Marc Morris explores many of the country’s most famous castles, as well as some spectacular lesser-known examples. At times this is an epic tale, driven by characters like William the Conqueror, King John and Edward I, full of sieges and conquest on an awesome scale. But it is also by turns an intimate story of less eminent individuals, whose adventures, struggles and ambitions were reflected in the fortified residences they constructed. Be it ever so grand or ever so humble, a castle was first and foremost a home.
To understand castles – who built them, who lived in them, and why – is to understand the forces that shaped medieval Britain.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In this fresh and accessible slice of medieval history, Morris (The Norman Conquest) uses the architectural history of castles in Great Britain from the time of Edward the Confessor in 1051 until the start of the Reformation in 1660 to shed light on monarchy and nobility, architecture, and technology. The author traces the development of castle conceptually and physically, describing each structure's features in great detail and then explaining the motives behind its design and the experiences of its residents. He begins with the simple motte and bailey structure, a design first seen in Normandy, and moves to the immense Welsh castles built in stone by Edward I and later by England and Scotland's powerful and wealthy landowners. He explores the defensible component of the castles and the influence of technological advances on their design. Morris's lively and accessible prose makes this a great entry point for readers new to English medieval history, though armchair travelers and readers interested in architecture will want more visuals.
