Castles and Fortresses

by Robin S Oggins

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... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0760710244
• ISBN13: 9780760710241
• Release Date: January 1998
• Publisher: Barnes & Noble Books
• Length: 120 Pages
• Weight: 2.35 lbs.

Customer Reviews

A Book as Great as its Topic

Covered with large colour photographs from cover to cover, this book is bound to turn any reader into a castle lover.Whilst this book contains great photographs, this alone is not its only content. The book does in fact contain pages of historical information on the origin of castles, historical overviews of the castle building eras, the different styles, architectures and functions of castles and even an overview of siege engines and castle attack and defence strategies. This book can therefore easily perform the dual function of a coffee table book and a reference book.Definitely one of my favourite books.

Awe Type Coffetable Work on Castles

Tour guide to history and spotlight examples throughout the world, including Europe, and modern works in North America along with palaces and walled towns.Incredible to eye these rising fortresses into the sky, out of rivers and on top of mountains, they are living monuments of protection and engineering and dungeons, etc.Makes for great reading and viewing.

Buy it!

This is one of my favorite "coffee table" books. To begin with, it's huge. The cover is an outstanding photo of the breathtaking Neuschwanstein (there's an even better one on page 96). The first few chapters give an illustrated (via hand drawings as well as awesome photos) history of the castle, its many functions, and its evolution. Chapters 3 through 6 focus on the castles of Great Britain, Ireland, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Northern Europe, Eastern Europe, and the Crusader Regions. The last chapter details more modern castles, walled towns, and palaces; with even more focus on the castle's architectural evolution. Included here among others are the Casa Loma (North America's largest), the Hearst Castle in San Simeon, even the Cinderella Castle at Disney World. If you're a fan of history, architecture, and/or photography, you will not be disapointed with this book.

Great value for the price.

Wonderful pictures of some of the most famous & picturesque castles in the world. Mostly in Europe. Some history; brief history for most of the featured castles with very general area maps to locate them. Generally one pic per castle and no floorplans or diagrams (another reviewer said diagrams probably meaning the map diagrams). Great book for planning a castle sightseeing trip to Europe.I would also recommend 'The Medieval Fortress - Castles, Forts and Walled Cities of the Middle Ages'. It has a ton of pics, history and floorplans; 10 times better than Sidney Toy's book on Castles.

Incredible

A marvelous work that actually covers all the aspects of the medieval castle, instead of restating the common facts found in every history text book. Castles and Fortresses in clearly written and the text is supported with glorious photographs and diagrams. An absolute-must have for anyone researching or just interested in the subject. Accept no substitutes.