Castles and Fortresses

by Robin S. Oggins

100 color illus. 10 1/2 x 12 1/4.

Genres: History, Reference, Architecture, Nonfiction, Travel

120 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 1995

Reviews

[Sarai · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazon.com Review
So you thought a man's home was his castle, eh? In fact, it was more likely to have been his fortress. Built as military strongholds by noblemen to protect against enemy invaders and rebellious citizenry, early castles of the 9th century were cold, dark stone bastions. It wasn't until the 15th century that castles began functioning as more lavish living quarters--increasing in size and interior ornamentation. Robbin Oggins's sampling of castles, as well as palaces and castle ruins, makes for an engaging picture book for travelers wishing to explore an era when monarchs ruled and feudalism comprised the economic and social order. Covering Europe during the Middle Ages, Castles and Fortresses opens with a compact but informative chapter on the evolution of the castle. The book then chronicles the political histories of Europe's various regions and how castles formed according to their military needs. Though the text is a bit general, the book's large color photographs speak volumes. The pictures are bright and crisp, shot from wide and aerial angles, capturing the majesty of these fabled, architectural masterpieces and the lovely scenery surrounding them. Among the more renowned castles featured are the Warwick Castle in England, Chateau Chinon in France, Neuschwanstein in Germany, and Miramar Castle in Italy. Brief coverage is given to western Asia (the Kremlin in Moscow, for example) and North America. A glossary and bibliography are also included.

FABULOUS pictures.

[Rance Cummings · Rating 5 out of 5]

The photographs in this book are amazing. I happened to stumble upon a copy of this book at Goodwill one day and I didn’t think much of the buy, but then it became one of my absolute favorite books very fast when I started looking at it. Prepare dear readers, you will be amazed at what castles actually are, and what architectural feats they can defy. It definitely is a good read. Id recommend it to anyone. He also has a book called Cathedrals that is very similar. I can’t stress how amazing the photos in this book are. I never knew castles like these existed. Thank you to the author for putting this book together. It’s a fun and informative read.

[Walt · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a university professor, Robin Oggins always illustrated his lectures with slides and photographs of the many places he discussed. Curiously, many of these photos are NOT from his slides and seem more organized with less interpretation and relevance.

[Tom Menke]

beautiful pictures

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I used to study this book intently. Loved the differences between castles in different countries. The architecture was stunning (!!).

[Michael Heath-Caldwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book on castles in Europe.