Castle (Paperback)

by David Macaulay (Author) "On March 27, 1283, King Edward I of England named Kevin le Strange to be Lord of Aberwyvern - a rich but rebellious area of..." (more)
Key Phrases: inner ward, inner curtain, outer curtain, Master James, Lord Kevin, King Edward (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Imagine yourself in 13th-century England. King Edward I has just named the fictitious Kevin le Strange to be the Lord of Aberwyvern--"a rich but rebellious area of Northwest Wales." Lord Kevin's first task is to oversee the construction of a strategically placed castle and town in order to assure that England can "dominate the Welsh once and for all." And a story is born! In the Caldecott Honor Book Castle, David Macaulay--author, illustrator, former architect and teacher--sets his sights on the creation and destiny of Lord Kevin's magnificent castle perched on a bluff overlooking the sea. Brick by brick, tool by tool, worker by worker, we witness the methodical construction of a castle through exquisitely detailed pen-and-ink illustrations. Children who love to know how things work especially appreciate Macaulay's passion for process and engineering. Moats, arrow loops, plumbing, dungeons, and weaponry are all explained in satisfying detail. This talented author also has a keen sense of irony and tragedy, which is played out in the intricacies of the human story: a castle can be built as a fortress, but ultimately it becomes obsolete when humans discover that cooperation works best. (Ages 9 and older) --Gail Hudson --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review
"What David Macaulay can draw -- churches, cities, pyramids -- he does better than any pen-and-ink illustrator in the world. Castle once again goes through a brick-by-brick assembly, employing cross-hatches and thin black lines to evoke a medieval place and period." -- Review

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Paperback: 80 pages
• Publisher: Sandpiper (October 25, 1982)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0395329205
• ISBN-13: 978-0395329207
• Product Dimensions: 12 x 9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #15,122 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars They capture the castle, December 21, 2003

By	E. R. Bird "Ramseelbird" (Manhattan, NY) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

In this book, text and detailed drawings follow the planning and construction of a "typical" castle and adjoining town in thirteenth-century Wales. Macaulay recently added the title "Mosque" to his series of large constructions such as "Castle" or "Pyramid". It is nice to see the man being so prolific. This book would appeal to the child who likes to know exactly how things are created. Going step by step, Macaulay explains each leg in the process of creating a castle. More importantly, with each construction the author goes even further, explaining the purpose of that piece. The reader never looses sight of the fact that castles were both antagonistic and defensive. Children today that have seen the Lord of the Rings movies might be very interested in knowing more about the construction of these structures and how difficult they were to defeat. Macaulay's drawings are just as interesting as his text. Pencil drawings label and list every tool, brick, and worker. Undoubtedly, this is not a book for everyone and it would not be much use beyond serving as a reference guide for interested students. However, should a teacher wish to bring it up, they might wish to show the video Macaulay narrated of this book. Also, it might go well with Avi's "Crispin: The Cross of Lead", as a look at a castle from a peasant's point of view.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful book!!, January 15, 1999

By	[e-mail] (Oberursel, Germany) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Castle (Hardcover)

I read this book when I was about twelve and fell in love with it. It wasn't only the pictures that captured my imagination, but also the story. When I was older, I traveled to Wales and was amazed one day when I saw Lord Kevin's castle out of my car window! The castle in Caenarfon, North Wales is almost identical to the one in the book. When I walked through it (they let you roam anywhere in the castle you want to) it was like walking in this beautiful book!

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars History in bricks and mortar, February 2, 2002

By	Fiona (Aotearoa/ New Zealand) - See all my reviews

David MacAuley's fine drawings provide children as young as six with opportunities to explore engineering and architecture in an historical setting. The laws of gravity have not changed yet technology has and the ingenuity of generations passed is illustrated with considerable care. There is much for an adult to learn in partnership with the child reader. My son has kept this book on his own shelves for the last ten years and I have to get permission to borrow it! "City" and "Cathedral" are equally compelling and each provides a link into related literature e.g. "Castle" takes you to Tintagel.