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A Castle of Doomsday
A Castle of Doomsday, is historical fiction closely based on fact and it is also the story of the castles inside the city walls of York.
William the First built two castles within the walls of York. One at Bailey Hill and the other one was York Castle which has since become known as "Clifford's Tower." The original castles were constructed of timber. They were burned down by the people around York and their Danish Viking allies.
Richard the First was the son of King Henry II and gained fame by his courage, becoming known as Richard the Lion Heart and who presided over the apparent massacre of Jews at the keep of York Castle in England.
The Normans replaced it with a second timber castle keep which was destroyed in a storm in 1228. After that, the stone structure was built, and that still stands today. It was built of stone and is called Clifford's Tower because King Edward II had Baron de Clifford hanged from the battlements of the Keep of York Castle for treason in 1322 A.D.... [From the back cover]
William the First built two castles within the walls of York. One at Bailey Hill and the other one was York Castle which has since become known as "Clifford's Tower." The original castles were constructed of timber. They were burned down by the people around York and their Danish Viking allies.
Richard the First was the son of King Henry II and gained fame by his courage, becoming known as Richard the Lion Heart and who presided over the apparent massacre of Jews at the keep of York Castle in England.
The Normans replaced it with a second timber castle keep which was destroyed in a storm in 1228. After that, the stone structure was built, and that still stands today. It was built of stone and is called Clifford's Tower because King Edward II had Baron de Clifford hanged from the battlements of the Keep of York Castle for treason in 1322 A.D.... [From the back cover]
280 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 17, 2020
17 people are currently reading
11796 people want to read
About the author
Michael G. Kramer
13 books8,017 followersServed Australian army, including war service in the Vietnam War in 1968 - 1969. Came home to public shunning of Vietnam Veterans and discrimination against Vietnam Veterans by potential employers. This resulted in the setting up of the first business, (contract fencing) because I could not get a job. In due course, I studied for Advanced Diploma of Egineering Technology, Associate Degree of Civil Engineering and I am now doing my Arts degree. It was during the study of the arts degree that I became interested in the history of Northern Europe and Germania during the times of Julius and Augustus Ceasar. This led to researching and writing of the second book entitled 'For the Love of Armin'. Currently studying Bachelor of Construction Management.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
October 26, 2020
Wow! This is such an entertaining read packed full of history, the author must have spent a great deal of time and energy on gathering this much information and translating it into a fantastic, educational, story. I love the style the book is written in, it makes it very easy to digest such a large intake of historical facts. I tend to loose interested in history books that spew endless dates and uninspiring facts but this book is the complete opposite of that, telling a mesmerising story while still providing all the information. I would have learnt a lot more about history in school if the text books had been structured in this way.
November 2, 2020
Ever since studying History at A-Level, I have been fascinated by English history. I've hoovered up the novels by Hilary Mantel and was looking for something similar when I stumbled across 'A Castle of Doomsday' by Michael Kramer. This takes you through the reigns right from Edward the Confessor to King Edward II and it was a turbulent era in British history with rebellions, revolts, and nefarious actions, including the hanging of innocent women and children, and Jewish people.
Some chronicles of English history can be a little dry and dare I say it, boring, but Kramer really brings this dark period to life by tackling it from a new angle. The story is narrated by the ghost of King Alfred who observes this period of history, providing interesting insights and making it much more exciting!
Some chronicles of English history can be a little dry and dare I say it, boring, but Kramer really brings this dark period to life by tackling it from a new angle. The story is narrated by the ghost of King Alfred who observes this period of history, providing interesting insights and making it much more exciting!
November 20, 2020
Michael Kramer writes another great story. I can’t say much about this author outside of what I’ve said before in the other 3 books of his that I’ve read, so I’ll dive right into what makes this story special. Kramer doesn’t put his pen onto paper until he knows what he’s talking about. His history background and style really comes out in this book, but I think what makes Kramer, and this book, really pop is that he tells us about what he’s learned in history through storytelling. It’s the most effective way for people to learn and retain information, and it captivates the audience/reader.
This story follows Edward and the company he kept (the Normans) and moves forward through changes of power and the many battles that occurred during the time shortly after Edward and William were in power. Being an American, I never took a ton of time to research much of English history that occurred on its own soil. Kramer makes it interesting.
The section about William the Conqueror and family(in part 4) was particularly interesting and told really well. I didn’t realize many of these historical figures were that interconnected, and it was neat to see things I’ve had a cursory knowledge of explained and told in an interesting way.
This story follows Edward and the company he kept (the Normans) and moves forward through changes of power and the many battles that occurred during the time shortly after Edward and William were in power. Being an American, I never took a ton of time to research much of English history that occurred on its own soil. Kramer makes it interesting.
The section about William the Conqueror and family(in part 4) was particularly interesting and told really well. I didn’t realize many of these historical figures were that interconnected, and it was neat to see things I’ve had a cursory knowledge of explained and told in an interesting way.
November 25, 2020
A Castle of Doomsday by Michael G. Kramer is a fine historical novel, obviously well researched by the author. The ghost of King Alfred the Great tells this tale, giving it a unique perspective. The book is broken out into parts – The English, The Normans, Norman England, the Family of William the Conqueror, The Anarchy, and The Massacre of the Jews. Each of these sections is expounded upon, and full of great detail, some of which feels completely new, yet relevant to any history buff. You will love this historical encapsulation of the castles in York, built by William the Conquerer. The complicated family relationships, struggles for power, and wars and rebellions make for interesting reading. While being entertained, you are actually learning something about this time in England. The narration by a ghost is spot on, pulling you in from the beginning and never letting up. A family tree of sorts might have been helpful to understand all of the different relationships but nonetheless, this is a fascinating book and well-executed. Highly recommend.
November 27, 2022
A Castle of Doomsday begins with Edward the Confessor wanting to live his life in exile in Normandy. During his time there, he was attended to by many Normans. The Father of Harold, Earl Godwin, persuaded his king to return to England and rule in his own right. however, after doing so for a time, he decided to bring into England, many of his former Norman associates. These men, he appointed to high positions including the Archbishop of Canterbury that was something which was resented by the English. The anti-Norman feelings were further inflamed when Edward decided to make William of Normandy his successor to the English crown. The Battle of Hasting followed and then there were many rebellions against Norman rule. This was bought to a head, firstly at Exeter and then at York. There William built two castles. One was at Bailey hill and the other was called York Castle and it overlooked the former Danish Viking city of Jorvik. Both castles were burned down when William set about his "Harrying the North" policy of hanging the inhabitants and implementing a 'Black Earth' policy in which the crops were burned and the farm animals were slain. The story moves on to the successors of William I and to the Barons' Revolt during the reign of Edward II. That resulted in the "Battle of Boroughbridge" and ended up with the trial of Baron Roger de Clifford. He along with others was hanged from the battlements of the keep of York Castle. It since has become known as Clifford's Tower.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 14, 2020
A Castle of Doomsday by Michael G. Kramer has a unique twist where the ghost of King Alfred the Great tells the story of kings, instead of men telling of the ghost of England. This ghost begins in 1042 with Edward the Confessor. Combining history with fictional narration brings this era to life as we get a view as to the personality, temperament, weaknesses, and strength of the kings that ruled England. This fascinating book ends in 1322, yet gives an update of the current state of Clifford’s Tower in York.
I feel A Castle of Doomsday is just the beginning of Michael G. Kramer’s historical fiction. He hinted in this novel that there is so much more history that it could have covered, but some characters in history deserve a book of their own. I would love to read one about Isabella, King Edward the Second’s wife. I would recommend this novel to those who love historical genre, but I wish there was a family tree outlining the relations of people.
I feel A Castle of Doomsday is just the beginning of Michael G. Kramer’s historical fiction. He hinted in this novel that there is so much more history that it could have covered, but some characters in history deserve a book of their own. I would love to read one about Isabella, King Edward the Second’s wife. I would recommend this novel to those who love historical genre, but I wish there was a family tree outlining the relations of people.
January 6, 2023
‘My friends, our country of England is in great peril!’ - Excellent!
Australian author Michael Kramer earned degrees in architecture and engineering, and is a Veteran of the Vietnam War, having served with the First Battalion Royal Australian Regiment (1RAR) in the Vietnam War during 1968 and 1969, and has published six novels - FULL CIRCLE FOR MICK, FOR THE LOVE OF ARMIN, NOW WHAT?!! (and the version, ANGLO-SAXON INVASION), A GRACIOUS ENEMY, and now A CASTLE OF DOOMSDAY – ‘historical fiction closely based on fact and the story of the castles inside the city walls of York.’ Note – his knowledge of architecture enhances his theme.
Having read and enjoyed all of Michael Kramer’s books, it is with some assurance that this reader underlines the importance of his contribution to our understanding, appreciation, and respect for history. Not only is reading this book a fascinating journey back to the Middle Ages, but it also is rich in descriptive and fictional details that make it a fine novel as well.
The book is divided into six parts – The English, The Normans, Norman England, the Family of William the Conqueror, The Anarchy, and The Massacre of the Jews. Each part addresses the places and participants of that level in history in a manner that creates wholly credible (and reliably accurate!) data. It weaves together well. The complex plot is well condensed by the author – ‘A journey through the history of England from the reign of Edward the Confessor through to King Edward II who was the son of Longshanks, the Hammer of the Scots! This is also the story of the castles which were built within the city walls of York by William the Conqueror. The castles he built in York were at Baley Hill and also the York Castle near the city walls. After he had these built to secure his rear, William subjugated the north of England using a "Black Earth" policy and hanged many women, men and children in order to try to make the English people obey his will. However, there were many rebellions. Some of these were led by Hereward the Wake. He and his followers attacked and burned down both of the castles that William had built in York and he then began systematic robbing of Norman tax collectors. It is the exploits of Hereard the Wake that are now presented as the "Adventures of Robin Hood", who never existed. But Hereward the Wake did! Also, we examine the tensions within the Royal Anglo-Norman Family. That is, William the Conqueror, his wife Matilda, his four sons and five daughters. We see the succession crisis bought about by the sinking of the "White Ship" and why the barons rose in revolt against King Edward II. After successful action against the rebels led by Lancaster and de Clifford the rebels were hanged in chains from the battlements of the Keep of York Castle. It has since become known as Clifford's Tower. It was also the site of the Massacre of the Jews in 1190.’
Fine writing, well considered research, and a sense of immediacy make this a fine history book – and novel. Recommended
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book
Australian author Michael Kramer earned degrees in architecture and engineering, and is a Veteran of the Vietnam War, having served with the First Battalion Royal Australian Regiment (1RAR) in the Vietnam War during 1968 and 1969, and has published six novels - FULL CIRCLE FOR MICK, FOR THE LOVE OF ARMIN, NOW WHAT?!! (and the version, ANGLO-SAXON INVASION), A GRACIOUS ENEMY, and now A CASTLE OF DOOMSDAY – ‘historical fiction closely based on fact and the story of the castles inside the city walls of York.’ Note – his knowledge of architecture enhances his theme.
Having read and enjoyed all of Michael Kramer’s books, it is with some assurance that this reader underlines the importance of his contribution to our understanding, appreciation, and respect for history. Not only is reading this book a fascinating journey back to the Middle Ages, but it also is rich in descriptive and fictional details that make it a fine novel as well.
The book is divided into six parts – The English, The Normans, Norman England, the Family of William the Conqueror, The Anarchy, and The Massacre of the Jews. Each part addresses the places and participants of that level in history in a manner that creates wholly credible (and reliably accurate!) data. It weaves together well. The complex plot is well condensed by the author – ‘A journey through the history of England from the reign of Edward the Confessor through to King Edward II who was the son of Longshanks, the Hammer of the Scots! This is also the story of the castles which were built within the city walls of York by William the Conqueror. The castles he built in York were at Baley Hill and also the York Castle near the city walls. After he had these built to secure his rear, William subjugated the north of England using a "Black Earth" policy and hanged many women, men and children in order to try to make the English people obey his will. However, there were many rebellions. Some of these were led by Hereward the Wake. He and his followers attacked and burned down both of the castles that William had built in York and he then began systematic robbing of Norman tax collectors. It is the exploits of Hereard the Wake that are now presented as the "Adventures of Robin Hood", who never existed. But Hereward the Wake did! Also, we examine the tensions within the Royal Anglo-Norman Family. That is, William the Conqueror, his wife Matilda, his four sons and five daughters. We see the succession crisis bought about by the sinking of the "White Ship" and why the barons rose in revolt against King Edward II. After successful action against the rebels led by Lancaster and de Clifford the rebels were hanged in chains from the battlements of the Keep of York Castle. It has since become known as Clifford's Tower. It was also the site of the Massacre of the Jews in 1190.’
Fine writing, well considered research, and a sense of immediacy make this a fine history book – and novel. Recommended
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book
November 16, 2020
Michael Kramer is a go to author for me when learning about not so well-known parts of history. The detail in this book - and all his others - is on a level I have never found elsewhere and it is teemed with personal accounts and interpretation that bring history to life. The unexpected details are what made this book so engrossing for me and I found so much enjoyment in learning about this passage of time. Another genius historical novel from one of my favorite writers.
January 12, 2021
[English review + Reseña en español]
A Castle of Doomsday by Michael G Kramer
Michael G Kramer. 2020
299 pages
Historical Fiction
A Castle of Doomsday is a condensed history of England, written as fiction but close to historical facts —specifically the history of the period between 1,042 (the coronation of Edward the Confessor) and 1,327 (the year of the deposition of Edward II of Caernarfon) -. At the same time, it is the story of the castles built within the walls of York (the so-called "Clifford Tower" and the castle on Bailey Hill), both built by William I.
The narrator of the story is the ghost of King Alfred the Great, and throughout the story it includes a multitude of dialogues that bring the main actors of each event to life. The book is divided into six parts, arranged chronologically, and entitled "The English", "The Normans", "Norman England", "Family of William the Conqueror", "The Anarchy" and "The Massacre of the Jews". The chapters that make up these six parts are short, concise, and specifically narrate the battles, relationships, and events that shaped the history of the period, focusing exclusively on those who held or were closely related to power, so that the reading becomes agile and very easy to understand.
I recommend this book to anyone who wants to know more about the history of that period of England, but who also prefers the close tone of a story with dialogues to that typical academic tone of history books.
-------
A Castle of Doomsday, de Michael G Kramer
Michael G Kramer. 2020
299 páginas
Ficción histórica
A Castle of Doomsday es una resumida historia de Inglaterra, escrita a modo de ficción pero cercana a los hechos históricos —específicamente del periodo comprendido entre los años 1,042 (la coronación de Eduardo el Confesor) y 1,327 (el año de la deposición de Eduardo II de Carnarvon)—. Al mismo tiempo, es la historia de los castillos construidos dentro de las murallas de York (la llamada "Torre Clifford" y el castillo sobre la Colina Bailey), ambos construidos por Guillermo I.
El narrador de la historia es el fantasma del Rey Alfredo el Grande, y a lo largo del relato se incluye una multitud de diálogos que da vida a los actores principales de cada suceso. El libro se divide en seis partes ordenadas cronológicamente, y tituladas “Los Ingleses”, “Los Normandos”, “Inglaterra normanda”, “Familia de Guillermo el Conquistador”,”La anarquía” y “La masacre de los Judíos”. Los capítulos que conforman estas seis partes son cortos, concisos, y narran específicamente las batallas, relaciones y sucesos que dieron forma a la historia del periodo, centrándose exclusivamente en las personas que ostentaban el poder o estaban estrechamente relacionadas con él, de modo que la lectura se vuelve ágil y muy fácil de comprender.
Recomiendo este libro a aquel que desee conocer más sobre la historia de Inglaterra del periodo comprendido, aproximadamente, entre los años 1,042 y 1,327, pero que quiera prefiera el tono cercano de un relato con diálogos a aquel tono académico típicos de los libros de historia.
A Castle of Doomsday by Michael G Kramer
Michael G Kramer. 2020
299 pages
Historical Fiction
A Castle of Doomsday is a condensed history of England, written as fiction but close to historical facts —specifically the history of the period between 1,042 (the coronation of Edward the Confessor) and 1,327 (the year of the deposition of Edward II of Caernarfon) -. At the same time, it is the story of the castles built within the walls of York (the so-called "Clifford Tower" and the castle on Bailey Hill), both built by William I.
The narrator of the story is the ghost of King Alfred the Great, and throughout the story it includes a multitude of dialogues that bring the main actors of each event to life. The book is divided into six parts, arranged chronologically, and entitled "The English", "The Normans", "Norman England", "Family of William the Conqueror", "The Anarchy" and "The Massacre of the Jews". The chapters that make up these six parts are short, concise, and specifically narrate the battles, relationships, and events that shaped the history of the period, focusing exclusively on those who held or were closely related to power, so that the reading becomes agile and very easy to understand.
I recommend this book to anyone who wants to know more about the history of that period of England, but who also prefers the close tone of a story with dialogues to that typical academic tone of history books.
-------
A Castle of Doomsday, de Michael G Kramer
Michael G Kramer. 2020
299 páginas
Ficción histórica
A Castle of Doomsday es una resumida historia de Inglaterra, escrita a modo de ficción pero cercana a los hechos históricos —específicamente del periodo comprendido entre los años 1,042 (la coronación de Eduardo el Confesor) y 1,327 (el año de la deposición de Eduardo II de Carnarvon)—. Al mismo tiempo, es la historia de los castillos construidos dentro de las murallas de York (la llamada "Torre Clifford" y el castillo sobre la Colina Bailey), ambos construidos por Guillermo I.
El narrador de la historia es el fantasma del Rey Alfredo el Grande, y a lo largo del relato se incluye una multitud de diálogos que da vida a los actores principales de cada suceso. El libro se divide en seis partes ordenadas cronológicamente, y tituladas “Los Ingleses”, “Los Normandos”, “Inglaterra normanda”, “Familia de Guillermo el Conquistador”,”La anarquía” y “La masacre de los Judíos”. Los capítulos que conforman estas seis partes son cortos, concisos, y narran específicamente las batallas, relaciones y sucesos que dieron forma a la historia del periodo, centrándose exclusivamente en las personas que ostentaban el poder o estaban estrechamente relacionadas con él, de modo que la lectura se vuelve ágil y muy fácil de comprender.
Recomiendo este libro a aquel que desee conocer más sobre la historia de Inglaterra del periodo comprendido, aproximadamente, entre los años 1,042 y 1,327, pero que quiera prefiera el tono cercano de un relato con diálogos a aquel tono académico típicos de los libros de historia.
March 11, 2023
I have been debating with myself whether or not to post a review for this book. It is the first review I have written, and it is a negative one. After reading the book it is clearly by a self-published author, without the benefit of editors and publishers to check things. I am aware the author got into writing after coming out of the army, and I hope he keeps at it if it is something that brings him joy. Kudos to anyone that writes a book. I certainly couldn’t.
However, I do feel that I have been conned, and that is why I am writing the review. I’m not sure how this book appeared on my ‘Want to read’ list. I think I was looking for some sort of medieval historical fiction, set in or around a castle. I must have seen it on a forum thread or Goodreads list somewhere and added it. The book has 3,428 ratings and an average rating of 4.26 so I figured it must be good and didn’t look any further. It was on my Christmas list, as a book I wanted to read, and I was given it as a gift by my mother.
The book is not well written. There are grammatical errors throughout. The writing style is boring; “A said “blah blah blah”, B said “blah blah blah”, then A said “blah blah blah”. The layout is poor and in strangely formatted paragraphs. Some dialogue starts with quotation marks, but the closing quotation marks never appear. In one section a character ‘Ralf’ is referred to as ‘Ralf’, ‘Ralph’, ‘Ralf’, and then back to ‘Ralph’ again, all in successive paragraphs.
There are three times in the book where a character is in labour, and the dialogue around each one is almost identical:
“The main problem is that this giving birth thing is like badly needing to have a s***, but being badly constipated”
“this giving birth thing is like trying to get the s*** out of you when you are constipated very badly, and nothing wants to move!”
“It is rather like having to pass a turd when you are very constipated, and absolutely nothing wants to move!”
Notice as well the liberal use of exclamation marks.
Then on page 188, there is a random four paragraphs of ‘Robert’ giving detailed instructions on what he wants two prostitutes to do. Here is an excerpt..be warned, it is rather explicit:
“While you are bent over with my p**k in your mouth, Sofia will insert a d*l*o into her v****a and then she will insert the other end of it into your v****a and f*** you from behind. This way, you shall be experiencing having sex with both a man and a woman from both ends of you at the same time!”
Incredible.
But what really got to me, and the tipping point into why I wrote this review, is how I was conned. After finishing the book I looked back at the reviews. They are all glowing. Five stars here, four stars there. So I did some more digging and looked at the Goodreads ‘book statistics’.
On 19/01/2023 there was one rating added and no reviews
On 20/01/2023 there was one rating added and no reviews.
On 21/01/2023 there 2681 ratings added and 32 reviews
On 22/01/2023 there was one rating no reviews…
Spot the odd one out. It just seems strange to me that, at the time of writing 78% of all of the ratings for this book (all of which were four or five stars) were added on the same day. Maybe I’m reading too much into it.
Let’s look at some of those reviews..
Cecilia Sholar said “This was epic”. Was it Cecilia? The Count of Monte Christo is ‘epic’, this is 277 pages, most of it taken up by space between the paragraphs.
Lorna Alcalde calls it a “beautiful book”, and to be fair, with those passages I’ve quoted above, who can argue with her.
Florence Youd says it is “One of the all time best books”, but still only gives it four stars.. very hard to please is Florence.
I do hope Mr Kramer keeps writing. I just hope they are marketed a little more honestly.
However, I do feel that I have been conned, and that is why I am writing the review. I’m not sure how this book appeared on my ‘Want to read’ list. I think I was looking for some sort of medieval historical fiction, set in or around a castle. I must have seen it on a forum thread or Goodreads list somewhere and added it. The book has 3,428 ratings and an average rating of 4.26 so I figured it must be good and didn’t look any further. It was on my Christmas list, as a book I wanted to read, and I was given it as a gift by my mother.
The book is not well written. There are grammatical errors throughout. The writing style is boring; “A said “blah blah blah”, B said “blah blah blah”, then A said “blah blah blah”. The layout is poor and in strangely formatted paragraphs. Some dialogue starts with quotation marks, but the closing quotation marks never appear. In one section a character ‘Ralf’ is referred to as ‘Ralf’, ‘Ralph’, ‘Ralf’, and then back to ‘Ralph’ again, all in successive paragraphs.
There are three times in the book where a character is in labour, and the dialogue around each one is almost identical:
“The main problem is that this giving birth thing is like badly needing to have a s***, but being badly constipated”
“this giving birth thing is like trying to get the s*** out of you when you are constipated very badly, and nothing wants to move!”
“It is rather like having to pass a turd when you are very constipated, and absolutely nothing wants to move!”
Notice as well the liberal use of exclamation marks.
Then on page 188, there is a random four paragraphs of ‘Robert’ giving detailed instructions on what he wants two prostitutes to do. Here is an excerpt..be warned, it is rather explicit:
“While you are bent over with my p**k in your mouth, Sofia will insert a d*l*o into her v****a and then she will insert the other end of it into your v****a and f*** you from behind. This way, you shall be experiencing having sex with both a man and a woman from both ends of you at the same time!”
Incredible.
But what really got to me, and the tipping point into why I wrote this review, is how I was conned. After finishing the book I looked back at the reviews. They are all glowing. Five stars here, four stars there. So I did some more digging and looked at the Goodreads ‘book statistics’.
On 19/01/2023 there was one rating added and no reviews
On 20/01/2023 there was one rating added and no reviews.
On 21/01/2023 there 2681 ratings added and 32 reviews
On 22/01/2023 there was one rating no reviews…
Spot the odd one out. It just seems strange to me that, at the time of writing 78% of all of the ratings for this book (all of which were four or five stars) were added on the same day. Maybe I’m reading too much into it.
Let’s look at some of those reviews..
Cecilia Sholar said “This was epic”. Was it Cecilia? The Count of Monte Christo is ‘epic’, this is 277 pages, most of it taken up by space between the paragraphs.
Lorna Alcalde calls it a “beautiful book”, and to be fair, with those passages I’ve quoted above, who can argue with her.
Florence Youd says it is “One of the all time best books”, but still only gives it four stars.. very hard to please is Florence.
I do hope Mr Kramer keeps writing. I just hope they are marketed a little more honestly.
March 6, 2023
I was honestly not expecting to enjoy this, but this was informative and interesting.
Since I haven't read much historical fiction before, I got confused a little bit but I quickly recovered and learnt a lot. I had to google a few topics as well. I highly recommend it if you are interested in historical fiction, or if you want to learn a bit of history. A great thing about the book is that it isn't written in a textbook format, so it is easier to read and enjoy.
Since I haven't read much historical fiction before, I got confused a little bit but I quickly recovered and learnt a lot. I had to google a few topics as well. I highly recommend it if you are interested in historical fiction, or if you want to learn a bit of history. A great thing about the book is that it isn't written in a textbook format, so it is easier to read and enjoy.
Read
October 8, 2020A Castle of Doomsday by Author Michael Kramer is historical fiction closely based on facts and it is also the story of the castles inside the city walls of York.
This book includes a total of four coloured pictures. It is also the story of the two castles within the walls of York. Both of them were built by William the Conqueror. The castles he built in York were at Baley Hill and also the York Castle near the city walls. After he had these built to secure his rear, William subjugated the north of England using a “Black Earth” policy and hanged many women, men and children in order to try to make the English people obey his will. However, there were many rebellions. Some of these were led by Hereward the Wake. He and his followers attacked and burned down both of the castles that William had built in York and he then began systematic robbing of Norman tax collectors.
One of Bailey Hill and the other one was York Castle. Its keep has since become known as “Clifford’s Tower”. both castles were originally constructed of timber. They were burned down by the people of York and their Danish Viking allies.
Richard the First was the son of Henry II and gained fame by his courage, becoming known as Richard the Lionheart. He presided over the apparent ‘Massacre of the Jews’ at the keep of York Castle in 1190. That resulted in fire which burned the keep, and it was replaced with a new construction, again of timber. During a storm in 1228 the York Castle was demolished. It was replaced with the stone structure which is still there today. The people around york became calling it “Clifford’s Tower” after the hanging of Baron roger de Clifford for treason in 1322 A.D.
With a total of 256 pages, A Castle of Doomsday is a journey through the history of England from the reign of Edward the Confessor through to King Edward II who was the son of Longshanks, the Hammer of the Scots!
I liked the fact that about third of this book is to do with the man upon whom the adventure of Robin Hood is based. Robin Hood never existed – but Hereward the Wake did !
This book is ideal for all those readers who have a passion for history. It’s nice to get to know other places history from a book without the need to travel.
I liked the fact also that A Castle of Doomsday was written with a decent plot that is a little different from the usual history books. This is simply a brilliant book for all history lovers. I really recommend this book.
Be sure to buy your book from https://www.amazon.com/Castle-Doomsda...
This book includes a total of four coloured pictures. It is also the story of the two castles within the walls of York. Both of them were built by William the Conqueror. The castles he built in York were at Baley Hill and also the York Castle near the city walls. After he had these built to secure his rear, William subjugated the north of England using a “Black Earth” policy and hanged many women, men and children in order to try to make the English people obey his will. However, there were many rebellions. Some of these were led by Hereward the Wake. He and his followers attacked and burned down both of the castles that William had built in York and he then began systematic robbing of Norman tax collectors.
One of Bailey Hill and the other one was York Castle. Its keep has since become known as “Clifford’s Tower”. both castles were originally constructed of timber. They were burned down by the people of York and their Danish Viking allies.
Richard the First was the son of Henry II and gained fame by his courage, becoming known as Richard the Lionheart. He presided over the apparent ‘Massacre of the Jews’ at the keep of York Castle in 1190. That resulted in fire which burned the keep, and it was replaced with a new construction, again of timber. During a storm in 1228 the York Castle was demolished. It was replaced with the stone structure which is still there today. The people around york became calling it “Clifford’s Tower” after the hanging of Baron roger de Clifford for treason in 1322 A.D.
With a total of 256 pages, A Castle of Doomsday is a journey through the history of England from the reign of Edward the Confessor through to King Edward II who was the son of Longshanks, the Hammer of the Scots!
I liked the fact that about third of this book is to do with the man upon whom the adventure of Robin Hood is based. Robin Hood never existed – but Hereward the Wake did !
This book is ideal for all those readers who have a passion for history. It’s nice to get to know other places history from a book without the need to travel.
I liked the fact also that A Castle of Doomsday was written with a decent plot that is a little different from the usual history books. This is simply a brilliant book for all history lovers. I really recommend this book.
Be sure to buy your book from https://www.amazon.com/Castle-Doomsda...
December 30, 2025
This is a compelling and informative journey through the history of England, focusing on the reigns of Edward the Confessor through King Edward II. The book is divided into six parts - The English, The Normans, Norman England, the Family of William the Conqueror, The Anarchy, and The Massacre of the Jews. Each part addresses the places and participants of that level in history in a manner that creates wholly credible and reliably accurate data. The complex plot is well condensed by the author, making it easy for readers to understand and follow along.
One of the strengths of this book is the author's ability to weave together the various threads of history in a seamless and engaging manner. The book is filled with fascinating details and anecdotes that bring the past to life, making it easy for readers to imagine themselves as witnesses to the events described.
The author also does an excellent job of providing context and background information, which helps readers understand the significance of the events and the motivations of the people involved. This makes the book accessible to both history buffs and casual readers alike. The author also delves into the tensions within the Royal Anglo-Norman Family, specifically William the Conqueror, his wife Matilda, his four sons and five daughters. The book examines the succession crisis brought about by the sinking of the "White Ship" and why the barons rose in revolt against King Edward II. The author also looks at the exploits of Hereward the Wake, which are now presented as the "Adventures of Robin Hood," and how he attacked and burned down the castles that William had built in York and systematically robbed Norman tax collectors.
Overall, "A Castle of Doomsday 2nd Edition" by Michael G. Kramer is a well-researched and informative book that provides a deep dive into the history of England. The author's writing style is engaging.
You might like to wander through a few artistic journals — they’re full of sparks and surprises.
One of the strengths of this book is the author's ability to weave together the various threads of history in a seamless and engaging manner. The book is filled with fascinating details and anecdotes that bring the past to life, making it easy for readers to imagine themselves as witnesses to the events described.
The author also does an excellent job of providing context and background information, which helps readers understand the significance of the events and the motivations of the people involved. This makes the book accessible to both history buffs and casual readers alike. The author also delves into the tensions within the Royal Anglo-Norman Family, specifically William the Conqueror, his wife Matilda, his four sons and five daughters. The book examines the succession crisis brought about by the sinking of the "White Ship" and why the barons rose in revolt against King Edward II. The author also looks at the exploits of Hereward the Wake, which are now presented as the "Adventures of Robin Hood," and how he attacked and burned down the castles that William had built in York and systematically robbed Norman tax collectors.
Overall, "A Castle of Doomsday 2nd Edition" by Michael G. Kramer is a well-researched and informative book that provides a deep dive into the history of England. The author's writing style is engaging.
You might like to wander through a few artistic journals — they’re full of sparks and surprises.
January 29, 2024
A Castle of Doomsday, 2nd edition by Michael G. Kramer, is a historical fiction piece of work that tells a part of England’s history. Although it is a fictional piece of work, the author kept the information closely based on facts, and his work on the research is very thorough and deserves to be praised. The book takes the reader on a fascinating journey about the castles found inside the walls of York, the kings, like Edward II, and how they ruled England in their respective periods. For me, this book was not a quick read, but I found the author’s way of describing things very good; I could easily create an image in my head of the building, action, or person described. Although it has the vibe of a history book, the author managed to display the information in an easy-to-understand way, which I appreciated. Although it was not fully to my taste, the book has potential, especially for those interested in England’s history, fictional or not.
November 4, 2020
A Castle of Doomsday by Michael Kramer
This topic I like so much and have read many books on the subject and have watched so many movies/series about this era.
Love hearing the intricate details they don't show you in the tv shows and movies.
So many names I recall and remember them as if I had read the book the day before.
Some things make sense now-as to why certain castles were attacked, by who, their relationship and why.
Love the strategy of war tactics, so cool!
Wish there had been a family tree so I could keep all the brothers names straight.
I received this review copy from the publicist and this is my honest opinion.
This topic I like so much and have read many books on the subject and have watched so many movies/series about this era.
Love hearing the intricate details they don't show you in the tv shows and movies.
So many names I recall and remember them as if I had read the book the day before.
Some things make sense now-as to why certain castles were attacked, by who, their relationship and why.
Love the strategy of war tactics, so cool!
Wish there had been a family tree so I could keep all the brothers names straight.
I received this review copy from the publicist and this is my honest opinion.
February 16, 2021
Extraordinary novel.
February 16, 2021
True page-turner. I really loved it and will be recommending to readers I know.
February 16, 2021
This was epic!
February 17, 2021
Superb story.
February 17, 2021
Extraordinary and gripping story.
February 17, 2021
Breathlessly engaging and captivating.
February 17, 2021
The characters are really well done.
February 18, 2021
Unforgettable book.
February 18, 2021
Beautiful book.
February 18, 2021
One of the all time best books.
February 18, 2021
Extraordinary and engrossing book.
February 18, 2021
A superb and well written book.
February 18, 2021
A pretty great book.
February 18, 2021
Excellent book, well written.
February 18, 2021
The best book I've read this year.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews