Castle (Eyewitness Books) [Hardcover]

Christopher Gravett (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up

Discover the world of medieval castles -- how they were built, and what life was like inside them.

Here is a spectacular and informative guide to the castles of the Middle Ages and the lives of the people who lived in them. Superb, full-color photographs of castles around the world, plus specially built models, offer a unique and revealing "eyewitness" view of medieval life, from a castle's construction to its destruction in a siege. See a medieval lavatory, a giant crossbow on wheels, how prisoners were kept secure in dungeons, a herald in full regalia, and castles used by Crusaders in Syria and samurai warriors in Japan. Learn how castles got their water during a siege, how besiegers tunneled under castle walls, how the Normans built castles in a hurry, how the first guns worked, why round towers were better than square ones, and what a castellan's job entailed. Discover how enemies climbed castle walls, what was on the menu at a typical banquet, why many castles had resident carpenters and metalworkers, why Crusader castles were so well built, and much, much more.

Editorial Reviews

Review

...a mini museum between the covers of a book. [Eyewitness series] -- The New York Times

These books' striking visual impact will draw in even the most casual readers. [Eyewitness series] -- School Library Journal

From the Inside Flap

Full-color photos. Take a look behind the walls of these fascinating fortresses and learn how they were built to house hundreds of people and animals; how a young boy rose from lowly page to noble knight; and what life was like for the castle residents. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Hardcover: 64 pages
• Publisher: DK Children; 1st edition (July 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0789458888
• ISBN-13: 978-0789458889
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.1 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,252,876 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good foundation, February 8, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Castle: (ALA Recommended Book for Reluctant Young Readers) (Eyewitness Books) (Hardcover)

Like all the Eyewitness books, the quantity of information in Castle is both its strong point and weak point. We are taken to castles through time as well as in different cultures, and both the architectural and sociological aspects are examined. However, many of the facts and pictures included on a given page seem rather random and do not fit into a coherent general presentation.

Castle is good fun if one remembers to read the main sections and the details when they're specifically interesting, but to just enjoy the pictures for some of the minutia.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Educational too computerized., March 21, 2008

By 

D. Saks "Sci Fi Lover" (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Castle (EXPERIENCE) (Hardcover)

DK Publishing is know for their wonderful photographs and beautifully illustrated books. Unfortunately this is not one of them. They built a 3d computer models of a castles and used images of that to illustrate most of the book. Though illustrative it feels artificial and inauthentic. I wish there were more photos of real castles. If they are going to use a 3d model then they should include a disk with interactive views of that model.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Eyewitness Books Examine the Castle, September 7, 2008

By 

Steven A. Peterson (Hershey, PA (Born in Kewanee, IL)) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Castle (DK Eyewitness Books) (Hardcover)

Like Eyewitness Books? This is another nice entry in their series for younger readers. What is a castle? The book describes it thus: "A castle was the fortified private residence of a lord." The lord could be a king or a baron or some lesser noble. It was designed as both a residence AND a stronghold. The book begins by noting that such structures have had a long history (one ancestor goes back to Mycenae in about 1250 B.C.).

The volume moves on to consider the first castles (appearing in the 9th and 10th centuries A.D.). There is discussion of different approaches to building a castle--such as the use of concentric rings to harden the castle against attack. There are also discussions of different styles in castles--from the Loire region in France to Spanish castles, to German castles (take a trip along the Rhine River, and you will see numerous examples) to Japan. There is discussion of how those who wanted to capture a castle would strategize and how castles were structured to defend against such attacks.

The volume considers the different functions of a castle--from defense to kitchens and eating to entertainment.

The volume concludes with a discussion of the decline of castles.

All in all, a useful volume in the Eyewitness Books portfolio. Young readers, many of whom are enchanted by castles, are likely to find this a fun read--and a source of knowledge.