Castles: A Fortified History of the World

by Dan Jones

From New York Times bestselling historian Dan Jones, a grand and sweeping exploration of the world’s most awe-inspiring buildings, told through the lives of the people that fought, prayed, survived, and died within them

Few structures are as revered and iconic in our minds as castles. Home to gods, to royals, to the princesses of fairy tales, their existence is a time capsule, epitomizing the priorities and style of an era. In this singular history, Dan Jones explores the evolution of castles and the lasting grip they have maintained on the human imagination. From the city of Troy that launched a thousand stories to Alexander the Great’s spectacular citadel, from the “hillforts” of Southern England to the Ribat of Sousse and the other stunning monuments of the Islamic empire that stud the Mediterranean, Jones unspools the stories of each structure and what they meant in their time. Strongholds, marvels, tributes, declarations of power – castles have served as all of this and more. In diving into edifices around the world, Jones opens the door to investigate the people who built them, the civilizations they defended, and the way their reception continues to influence how we see history.

Though the protective function of castles has become less immediate, we are still left with the desire for the grandeur and awe that drives people in droves to visit the Scottish Highlands, the Red Fort of Delhi, the fantasy-turned-reality of Disneyworld. Written with Jones’ signature narrative flair, Castles is at once a history and an indulgence, an explanation of our intercultural obsession and a delightful trip through time and space.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Medieval, Historical, History and Politics, European History, British Literature

Kindle Edition

Expected publication October 8, 2026

About the author

Dan Jones is a NYT bestselling author and broadcaster. His books, which include The Templars, Henry V, The Plantagenets and Powers & Thrones, have sold more than 2 million copies and are published in 23 languages. He is the author of the Essex Dogs novel trilogy. Dan writes and hosts the popular weekly Sony Music Entertainment podcast This Is History. He has presented dozens of television documentaries, including the popular Netflix series Secrets of Great British Castles, and has executive produced and consulted on a number of films and television shows including Anne Boleyn (Channel 5/Sony Pictures Television) and Knightfall (A+E/History). His journalism has appeared in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Washington Post; for a decade he was a columnist for the London Evening Standard. He is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and in 2025 was appointed to the Board of Trustees of Historic Royal Palaces.

Reviews

[Leo]

I was so happy to get an arc of the audiobook as I love and is very fascinated by castles (who isn't?). The book goes trough a lot of diffrent castle across times, themes and places and even fantasy ones. A very engaging and entertaining read and interested in checking up Dan Jones backlist book

[Mai H.]

Non-fiction November TBR

📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Viking

[Jackie McGinnis]

Like many people, I am fascinated by castles. I’ve seen Dan Jones’ The Secret of Great British Castles and have read many of his history books. I had no idea how his latest book, Castles: A Fortified History of the World would be new and different. Dear reader: it is, and it is SO good. Dan Jones weaves all our favorite castle myths, legends, and history together in his book, introducing us to castles around the world. Jones takes time to separate myth from fact, but he also recognizes that the myths are still fun! They are a big reason castles have captured our imaginations for generations.

Beyond the usual European castle history, Jones explores Islamic castles, Viking ring forts, great walls, samurai castles, fantasy castles, and American castles. I loved learning about Christine de Pizan, the first renaissance woman, and her feminist writings connected to castles—both metaphorical and literally. The purpose of samurai castles was vastly different from European castles, affecting their design, beauty, and how many are still standing today. And Henry Walpole’s Strawberry Hill and the first graphic novel. Oh, the gloomth!

Dan Jones is my go-to history read because he’s such a great storyteller. Highly recommended for fellow castle nerds. Thank you to NetGalley and Viking for the eGalley!

[bonafidebibliophile]

Thank you @headofzeus and @netgalley for an advanced listeners copy of Castles by Dan Jones.

Dan Jones has to be one of the most engaging writers of history I have read. While I am more of a reader of scientific historical stories, Dan Jones makes me want to read general history! His ability to take extensive research and turn it not only into a palatable but smooth, interesting and informative read is exceptional. My only nit pick is, I expecting to read/learn more about the specifics of each castle. It felt that the time period itself was covered in more detail than each individual castle. Of course, the time period and battles etc are necessary and important in explaining the history of each castle but it did not feel in proportion to the information presented specifically about the castles themselves such as details of materials used, how they made the castles specifically etc. In saying that, it was still a great listen and will not doubt be a must read for history buffs.

In regard to the audiobook format, it was fantastic. Dan Jones narrated and you could really feel the passion and enthusiasm he has for the subject. Highly recommend.

[William Harris]

"Castles: A Fortified History of the World from the Bronze Age to the Nuclear Age" is yet another Tour de Force from celebrated author and historian Dan Jones. It is being published by Viking Penguin, who have been so kind as to send me an ARC for my examination. The first thing to note here is not to get lost in the reference to castles in the title. The subtitle is far more revealing of the author's intent in this project. For those of you not familiar with Jones' work, he is best known for his many titles, both historical and fictional, on the Middle Ages in Europe. He is an accomplished and well respected figure in historical and journalistic circles, and if you have read any of his work, you already know why. This text is an example of the kind of scholarship and cultural insights that have long been associated with his writing. Beginning with semi-mythological fortresses like Troy and Byzantium, he quickly makes clear his intentions in this project. He is not simply interested in architecture or a dry recitation of battles lost and won (many are touched upon here but never in a "dry" fashion). Rather, he is fascinated with the ways in which fortifications reveal underlying cultural themes and illuminate much more than simply military technology. The book reads like a romp through history, fast paced and never getting bogged down in unnecessary or pedantic excursions. It is, in a word, magnificent (and fascinating). Sieges and battles provide a backdrop to the evolving technology with deep roots in its cultural milieux. From Vikings and their characteristic hilltop circular fortresses to the elaborate castles marking the late Middle Ages reflecting the military functions of conquest and defense as well, Brown's subject material is woven into a cultural tapestry reflecting architecture tied to the purposes and complex belief systems of those using them be they agents of the militant orders of the Crusades or, in the nuclear age, carefully engineered bunkers built to provide continuity in the face of all out nuclear war. There is a lot to digest here, and the author does a superb job of keeping things moving while suggesting many interesting side trips for those who wish to explore them in more depth elsewhere. Recommended for all collections.

[BonniePB]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - God Tier

Castles: A Fortified History of the World covers ancient cities in the Bronze Age, hillforts in the Iron Age, ring fortresses in the Viking Age, as well as castles of Islamic, Norman, Crusader, Chivalric, Samurai, Renaissance, and American cultures. There are even fantasy castles and great walls that are discussed. Jones blends history with its legends and archaeological evidence to bring the castles, their purposes and creators, back to life. I espeically enjoyed the Crusader Castles chapter where Jones gave a spotlight to Krak des Chevaliers in Syria. It's still standing today and what a beast of a castle fort!

This book is not only engaging; it’s highly informative, well-researched, and well-organized into an easily digestible presentation. I highly recommend it for anyone remotely interested in the history of castles. I hadn’t read a Dan Jones book until now, but I’ll definitely be checking out more of his back log since he typically specializes in an area of English Medieval history that I love.

On a side note: I appreciated Jones including imperial system units of measurement alongside metric for readers like me who don't know what “5 meters” looks like off the top of my head. 

Thanks to Viking Penguin for the eARC via NetGalley.

[Peter Evans]

Dan Jones brings us a look at the life and times of castles throughout history.
From early periods of ancient history, up until the modern day. With some of the most well known buildings in history, and quite few unknown structures the reader will find fascinating.
With a look at how they shaped humanity in a time of war and peace. How many myths and legends were created, and how whole nations changed from conflict.
This is more than just a book about castles. It’s a biopic history of life, showing its relationship through time, and how strongholds of all shapes and sizes had integral part on how we lived.
This is a remarkable book written and narrated by Dan Jones.
He has a fantastic way of describing history without it sounding like a lecture. His narration of this book is fantastic and his writing is superb.
Dan Jones is the gold standard when it comes to writing about our past, and I highly recommend this book.
Thanks to Head of Zeus for the chance to listen and review this excellent book, it was a pleasure to do so.

[Jifu]

(Note: I received an advanced reader copy of this book courtesy of NetGalley)

Although Castles is set up to take the reader on a mostly straightforward journey through time beginning with bronze age fortifications, I admittedly took a different approach to this book. I jumped all about, reading whichever chapters first grabbed my attention the most first. And it honestly worked out very well. This book is almost kind of a “cozy” historical read - something I can sit down with and have an interesting, informative and low-stress experience. It’s something like the adult equivalent of the books I would take out from the library as a child when I just wanted to learn. I would gladly recommend Jones’ latest work to other history lovers without a second thought.

[Caesar Murillo]

Leave it to Dan Jones to bring ancient stone walls to vivid life! Castles is an authoritative, highly readable deep dive into the fortress-building era. Jones blends architectural history with human drama, showing how these structures were not just military defenses, but instruments of power, prestige, and political control.

His signature engaging narrative style makes dense historical facts feel like an adventure. Whether you are a lifelong history buff or a casual reader, this is an absolute treat.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Julie Friar]

Castles and fortifications have been built all over the world mainly for defence. Those built now seem to be for image and appearance. In this book the author takes us through how they were developed, where they were built and if they were up to expectations. Over time they became taller, larger, more electorate and stronger until weapons changed and stopped them being affective.

Very well researched, written and narrated by the author (I listened to the audiobook). Great interesting explanations of all the different types and forms of fortifications and where they were built. Fascinating how they were used, maintained and lived in. Highly recommend.

[Edward Gwynne]

This is exactly what it says on the tin - and it's SO good.

The legend DJ here gives us an informative, fun, engaging and at times thrilling run down of castles through all of the ages, from Troy, the Bronze-Ages, to Samurai fortifications and Renaissance castles. As always, Dan Jones is a highly intelligent writer and brings his A-game in turning us from medieval-peasants into well-read and knowledgeable Knights.

[Beth Younge]

I really enjoyed this audiobook. Dan Jones has a clear writing and speaking style, and i flew through this. I found it really informative and when i finished it, i found that i felt like i had deepened my understanding of certain areas of history i did not know much about before. This is a great read if you like history already or if you want to expand your knowledge as its very readable.

I received this book in exchange for a honest review.

[Andrew]

A cool tour of twenty castles, that, every so often, threatens to become a fascinating narrative beyond their place and into their social potency.

[Kristy W]

I always love to read his stuff, so engaging and fun to read. Really looking forward to the audiobook, he’s a great narrator. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.