Castles of England, Scotland and Wales (Country Series) [Paperback]

Paul Johnson (Author)

Book Description

Series: Country Series | Publication Date: March 1998

Traces each stage of the development of Britain's castles, from Norman times through Plantagenet and Edwardian expansion in Wales, Tudor strengthening of the coastal defences, the devastation of the Civil War, and the gradual decay of the castle, to the creation of mock castles.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Eminent historian Paul Johnson traces the different stages of the development of Britain's rich and varied collection of castles. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Paul Johnson was born in 1928. He edited the New Statesman in the 1960s and has written over forty books. His Modern Times, a history of the world from the 1920s to the 1990s, has been translated into more than fifteen languages. As well as a weekly column in the Spectator, he contributes to newspapers all over the world.

Product Details

• Paperback: 216 pages
• Publisher: Trafalgar Square Publishing (March 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0753802627
• ISBN-13: 978-0753802625
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 7.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,494,323 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Beginning with Modern Times (1985), Paul Johnson's books are acknowledged masterpieces of historical analysis. He is a regular columnist for Forbes and The Spectator, and his work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and many other publications.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great book for planning a tour of English castles, April 19, 2000

By 

Gordon C. Duus (Glen Ridge, NJ USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Castles of England, Scotland and Wales (Country Series) (Paperback)

In the summer of 1999 I took my son on a tour of medieval English castles. To plan the trip I looked at a number of books to decide which castles to visit. This book, written with the sponsorship of English Heritage, describes the different types of castles (e.g.-keep, walled, moated) built throughout the history of England, Scotland and Wales, including where to find the best existing examples of each type. I used the map in the book to plot the locations of these castles, and chose a dozen in London and the surrounding counties to go see. The book was of invaluable assistance--not only in making the selection, but in describing their history and most interesting features. The photography is fantastic. This book was the keystone to a once in a lifetime experience.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent little book, a real value, January 13, 2000

By 

Jim (Mt.Pleasant, IA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Castles of England, Scotland and Wales (Country Series) (Paperback)

This is a great little book at a super price. Lots of quality color and black and white photos and a top notch narrative to go along with them. This book is dense enough to hold the attention of a sophisticated reader and accessible enough not to bore the casual reader.

5.0 out of 5 stars High quality pictures and text, November 28, 2011

By 

slammy (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Castles of England, Scotland, and Wales (Hardcover)

I was pleasantly surprised at the high quality of this book. Hundreds of wonderful pictures of the amazing castles of Great Britain. The text offered some real insight into the how and why of castle building, and how it changed through the ages. Covers all the major castles as well as many little known ones.