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Castles of Europe: From Charlemagne to the Renaissance
A near fine copy in a very good dust jacket with a few small tears and chips. First American edition. Cloth. 4to. 304 pp. Illus. with 396 color & b/w plates and 28 maps & plans.
Hardcover
Published January 1, 1970
30 people want to read
About the author
William Anderson
529 books1 followerLibrarian’s note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Others:
William 2^ Anderson: Biography, Religion
William 3^ Anderson: specialist in the subject of Laura Ingalls Wilder and her times
William 4^ Anderson: British poet
William 5^ Anderson: Weight loss
William 6^ Anderson: Psychology, Self Help
William 7^ Anderson: Gardening
Others:
William 2^ Anderson: Biography, Religion
William 3^ Anderson: specialist in the subject of Laura Ingalls Wilder and her times
William 4^ Anderson: British poet
William 5^ Anderson: Weight loss
William 6^ Anderson: Psychology, Self Help
William 7^ Anderson: Gardening
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 18, 2021
Like many others, I have had a fascination with castles for as long as I can remember. Perhaps this interest was sparked by a visit to London when I was five years old. Out of the handful of impressions that trip made on me, the strongest is by far our tour of Windsor Castle. Even then, I have only vague memories of the arms and armor displays and the imposing nature of the battlements. All of that is to say it didn’t take much for me to select this book from the library on a whim.
When it comes to large, illustrated non-fiction books like the Castles of Medieval Europe, the quality of writing and information can vary widely. In this case, fortunately, the writing is not merely present to fill in the blank space between the pictures. On the contrary, the prose stands on its on merit. The narrative consists of a comprehensive survey of the development of the castle across Europe and the Mediterranean from its origins at the dawn of feudalism to its demise with the advent of gunpowder and a new society.
What I appreciated the most about this book was that the author always provided context. His underlying argument is that the castle was not just a feature of feudal Europe but one of its key components in how it integrates all aspects of Medieval society. Accordingly, significant portions of the text detail the historical background of different periods and regions, from political history to arms and armor to art and literature.
Despite the ubiquity of the castle across Europe, it developed to meet different needs across different regions. The result was the growth of distinct styles which this book does an excellent job of highlighting. Overall, the book’s scope is reasonably diverse but could be much improved. For instance, I know that there is an extraordinary number of castles in what is now Czechia, but only a few of the most famous examples are included (which might stem from restricted access to communist Europe at the time this book was written).
Of course, when dealing with a topic as visual as the castle having illustrations is not just pleasing to the eye but is vital to reinforcing the reader’s understanding of the text. The Castles of Medieval Europe contains 361 plates; the majority of which are photographs. There is a not insignificant number of prints and drawings from the 18th and 19th centuries which are useful for illustrating those castles which have since been ravaged by time, changes in style, or war. I particularly appreciated how, in general, the images were referenced in and corresponded to the text which made it easy to switch focus between the text and the pictures. On the other hand, many of the pictures seem to prize aesthetics over clarity and most are in black and white.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading the Castles of Medieval Europe and learned a great deal. It is comprehensive yet is still approachable enough for the general reader. The prose is well-written and engaging and the illustrations aid and enhance the text.
When it comes to large, illustrated non-fiction books like the Castles of Medieval Europe, the quality of writing and information can vary widely. In this case, fortunately, the writing is not merely present to fill in the blank space between the pictures. On the contrary, the prose stands on its on merit. The narrative consists of a comprehensive survey of the development of the castle across Europe and the Mediterranean from its origins at the dawn of feudalism to its demise with the advent of gunpowder and a new society.
What I appreciated the most about this book was that the author always provided context. His underlying argument is that the castle was not just a feature of feudal Europe but one of its key components in how it integrates all aspects of Medieval society. Accordingly, significant portions of the text detail the historical background of different periods and regions, from political history to arms and armor to art and literature.
Despite the ubiquity of the castle across Europe, it developed to meet different needs across different regions. The result was the growth of distinct styles which this book does an excellent job of highlighting. Overall, the book’s scope is reasonably diverse but could be much improved. For instance, I know that there is an extraordinary number of castles in what is now Czechia, but only a few of the most famous examples are included (which might stem from restricted access to communist Europe at the time this book was written).
Of course, when dealing with a topic as visual as the castle having illustrations is not just pleasing to the eye but is vital to reinforcing the reader’s understanding of the text. The Castles of Medieval Europe contains 361 plates; the majority of which are photographs. There is a not insignificant number of prints and drawings from the 18th and 19th centuries which are useful for illustrating those castles which have since been ravaged by time, changes in style, or war. I particularly appreciated how, in general, the images were referenced in and corresponded to the text which made it easy to switch focus between the text and the pictures. On the other hand, many of the pictures seem to prize aesthetics over clarity and most are in black and white.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading the Castles of Medieval Europe and learned a great deal. It is comprehensive yet is still approachable enough for the general reader. The prose is well-written and engaging and the illustrations aid and enhance the text.
Want to read
July 25, 2018Just picked up this very nice old book on European castles. Many beautiful black and white photos with a smaller collection of color plates.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews