A Samurai Castle (Inside Story) [Hardcover]

Fiona Macdonald (Author), David Antram (Illustrator), John James (Illustrator)

Book Description

Grade Level: 5 and up

Who were the Samurais and what was life like in their castles? Inside Story: Samurai Castle answers these questions and more through beautiful illustrations and thoroughly researched information. This book will take you inside a Samurai castle to learn about the Samurai way of life, the different kinds of people who lived and worked in Samurai castles, how these castles were built, how they were defended, and more.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 5-8--This book on samurai castles of the 16th and 17th centuries covers details of their construction, history, and the life and times of their inhabitants. Each double-page spread provides a paragraph or two on a particular aspect of the era (e.g., elegant interiors, castles and towns, entertaining visitors, women's lives, arms and armor) and detailed, informative full-color illustrations. Brief descriptions of some famous samurai are included. There is far more information on the topic here than in other books for this age group, including encyclopedias. The book's format will appeal to a younger age than its content. The limited scope makes it an appropriate purchase only where it fills a curricular need. Pamela Odijk's The Ancient World: The Japanese (Silver Burdett, 1991) provides broader coverage of Japanese history. Peg Glisson, Dewitt Road School, Webster, NY

Copyright 1996 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: Brighter Child; 1st edition (February 9, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0872263819
• ISBN-13: 978-0872263819
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,055,409 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A look at the Samurai castles of medieval Japan, July 14, 2003

By 

Lawrance M. Bernabo (The Zenith City, Duluth, Minnesota) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A Samurai Castle (Inside Story) (Hardcover)

"A Samurai Castle" looks at the history of the samurai castles of medieval Japan, not only in terms of diagramming the layout of these castles but also in terms of the examining the role of samurai, the shogun, and women in feudal Japanese society. Fiona MacDonald looks at everything that made up this society, from the religious beliefs to the arms and armor of the period. In the late Sixties I visited just such a castle in Tokyo, but of course I had no appreciation for it beyond noticing that they are built up on tall stone foundations (which had aesthetic and symbolic significance). This book begins with the idea of how sites where selected for building these castles along with how they were designed and constructed. The book is illustrated by David Antram and John James, with pictures not only of these castles but the people that worked and lived inside them in feudal Japan.

Actually, this book places as much emphasis on the samurai as it does on their castle, covering how they trained, their arms and armor, and what they did during a normal day of service to their lord. The roles of women and what these people did for entertainment are covered as well. Consequently, I was a bit disappointed that there were not more details on the actual castles, although there was a section near the end on how the samurai laid siege to these castles. But this is rather consistent with the format of this series. "A Samurai Castle" is one of over a dozen books from the Inside Story series that diagram ancient structures such as an Egyptian Pyramid, a Roman Fort, and a Medieval Cathedral to more recent structures such as a frontier fort on the Oregon Trail and a World War II submarine. Obviously what is nice about these volumes is that they present young readers with the idea of form and function in a way that is both creative and educational.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Artwork, December 13, 2001

By 

James "curucahm" (Gore, VA, United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A Samurai Castle (Inside Story) (Hardcover)

This is a great book for kids and adults alike. It has wonderful artwork that depicts periond clothing and settings.
Even some good general information. If my children were interested in samurai's, I'd buy it for them.

5.0 out of 5 stars Good reference book, December 10, 2011

By 

City Gal - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Samurai Castle (Inside Story) (Hardcover)

I purchased this book for a novel I am writing. The children's format with clear illustrations has been very helpful. The book arrived in good condition.