Castles: Their History and Evolution in Medieval Britain

by Marc Morris Narrated by Derek Perkins

Overview

Beginning with their introduction in the eleventh century, and ending with their widespread abandonment in the seventeenth, Marc Morris explores many of the country's most famous castles, as well as some spectacular lesser-known examples.



At times this is an epic tale, driven by characters like William the Conqueror, King John, and Edward I, full of sieges and conquest on an awesome scale. But it is also by turns an intimate story of less eminent individuals, whose adventures, struggles, and ambitions were reflected in the fortified residences they constructed. Be it ever so grand or ever so humble, a castle was first and foremost a home.



To understand castles-who built them, who lived in them, and why-is to understand the forces that shaped medieval Britain.

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly

02/20/2017
In this fresh and accessible slice of medieval history, Morris (The Norman Conquest) uses the architectural history of castles in Great Britain from the time of Edward the Confessor in 1051 until the start of the Reformation in 1660 to shed light on monarchy and nobility, architecture, and technology. The author traces the development of castle conceptually and physically, describing each structure’s features in great detail and then explaining the motives behind its design and the experiences of its residents. He begins with the simple motte and bailey structure, a design first seen in Normandy, and moves to the immense Welsh castles built in stone by Edward I and later by England and Scotland’s powerful and wealthy landowners. He explores the defensible component of the castles and the influence of technological advances on their design. Morris’s lively and accessible prose makes this a great entry point for readers new to English medieval history, though armchair travelers and readers interested in architecture will want more visuals. (Apr.)

From the Publisher

Captivating and entertaining. More than just a study of architecture, weaponry, and personalities, Castle pieces together a comprehensive overview that gives a fresh take on medieval and early modern Britain and the forces that shaped it." ---BBC History Magazine

Shelf Awareness

Historian Marc Morris's Castles offers an enthusiastic and marvelously entertaining socio-architectural history covering 600 years of British castles.

BBC History Magazine

Captivating and entertaining. More than just a study of architecture, weaponry, and personalities, Castle pieces together a comprehensive overview that gives a fresh take on medieval and early modern Britain and the forces that shaped it. Whether ruined or intact, castles still have the power to fire the imagination, and Marc Morris leaves you in no doubt why.

Bookreporter

Seeking to answer the question of how to precisely define castles, Morris has created a riveting tale of politics and violence, technology and innovation. Morris’ slim yet detailed book moves us beyond an I-know-it-when-I-see-it impression and toward a real understanding of these buildings, creating a more vivid, rich and accurate view of England, Wales and Scotland in the medieval period.

Book Reporter

"Seeking to answer the question of how to precisely define castles, Morris has created a riveting tale of politics and violence, technology and innovation. Morris’ slim yet detailed book moves us beyond an I-know-it-when-I-see-it impression and toward a real understanding of these buildings, creating a more vivid, rich and accurate view of England, Wales and Scotland in the medieval period."

From the Publisher - AUDIO COMMENTARY

Captivating and entertaining. More than just a study of architecture, weaponry, and personalities, Castle pieces together a comprehensive overview that gives a fresh take on medieval and early modern Britain and the forces that shaped it." —BBC History Magazine

AUGUST 2017 - AudioFile

This study of British castles and their history through the seventeenth century is mostly serious, even technical, though with some humorous asides. Derek Perkins narrates with unassuming skill and adeptness; his excellent match of tone, emphasis, and pacing to sense makes the text clear, flowing, and easy to follow, while seeming effortless. His generally grave tone, which fits most of the text, is not a perfect match for the occasional jocular comments, but he carries them off, if with a slight air of awkwardness. The program is informative (though listeners may want to seek out pictures) and, for its topic, entertaining. Its enjoyability and clarity are ably supported by Perkins’s talent and expertise. W.M. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine

Kirkus Reviews

2017-02-07
Enchanting journey through feudal England in the wake of Norman castle building.Before William the Conquerer arrived in 1066, why did the English lack castles while the French had them in abundance? A historian specializing in the Middle Ages, Morris (King John: Treachery, Tyranny and the Road to Magna Carta, 2015, etc.) imparts some fascinating information in this accessible study for readers, leading us from one noted English castle to the next without an overabundance of technical construction detail. As the author defines them, castles were fortresses as well as residences. Indeed, in England, after the Viking invasions of the ninth century, the king did not permit private fortifications; rather, he was in favor of the communal burh, or borough, where everyone lived within a walled community. On the other hand, after the Viking invasions in France, specifically in Normandy, the French experienced political fragmentation, and powerful men took "the matter of defense into their own hands." The Normans brought their motte-and-bailey style to England; before the use of stone, castles were constructed with high earthen walls, ditches, and wooden buildings, as illustrated in the Bayeux Tapestry. Soon the countryside was dotted by such motte-and-bailey castles, built by William's supporters; the author estimates that around 500 castles were built by the Normans in England during his reign. William's Tower of London was the prototypical "keep," made of stone and more expensive to build but able to expand bigger, stronger, and taller. Other fine examples of keeps are the Rochester, Harlech, and Bodiam castles, appearing here in helpful photos. Edward I's invasion of Wales in the late 13th century prompted the construction of some massive, showy buildings, "tools of conquest," such as the castles of Caernarfon and Beaumaris. Morris also depicts the "castle's last stand" during the English civil war, when the doomed King Charles took refuge in the stately Raglan Castle in Wales. An engaging work that will no doubt prompt enthusiastic visits to castles around Britain.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940171097455
Publisher:	Tantor Audio
Publication date:	04/04/2017
Edition description:	Unabridged

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