Life in a Medieval Castle

by Joseph Gies, Frances Gies

Overview

The definitive classic used as a source for Game of Thrones: “The Gieses succeed in making a remote and unfamiliar world accessible.” —Kirkus Reviews

A bestseller by two widely respected historians, Joseph and Frances Gies’s Life in a Medieval Castle remains a timeless work of popular medieval scholarship.

Focusing on Chepstow, an English castle on the Welsh border that survived the turbulent Middle Ages with a relative lack of violence, the book offers an exquisite portrait of what day-to-day life was actually like during the era, and of the key role the castle played. The Gieses take us through the full cycle of a medieval year, dictated by the rhythms of the harvest. We learn what lords and serfs alike would have worn, eaten, and done for leisure—and of the outside threats the castle strove to keep at bay.

“The authors allow medieval man and woman to speak for themselves through selections from past journals, songs, even account books.” —Time

Includes photographs and maps

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062016508
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	03/19/2024
Series:	Medieval Life
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	208
Sales rank:	109,768
Lexile:	1380L (what's this?)
File size:	5 MB

About the Author

Frances (1915–2013) and Joseph (1916–2006) Gies were the world’s bestselling historians of medieval Europe. Together and separately, they wrote more than twenty books, which col-lectively have sold more than a million copies. They lived in Michigan.

Editorial Reviews

The authors allow medieval man and woman to speak for themselves through selections from past journals, songs, even account books.

Time

Some particular books I found useful for A Game of Thrones and its sequels deserve mention. ... Life in a Medieval Castle and Life in a Medieval City, both by Joseph and Frances Gies.” — George R.R. Martin, author of the A Song of Ice and Fire series

“The Gieses succeed in making a remote and unfamiliar world accessible.” — Kirkus Reviews

“The authors allow medieval man and woman to speak for themselves through selections from past journals, songs, even account books.” — Time

From the Publisher

Some particular books I found useful for A Game of Thrones and its sequels deserve mention. ... Life in a Medieval Castle and Life in a Medieval City, both by Joseph and Frances Gies.

George R. R. Martin

The authors allow medieval man and woman to speak for themselves through selections from past journals, songs, even account books.

Time

Some particular books I found useful for A Game of Thrones and its sequels deserve mention. ... Life in a Medieval Castle and Life in a Medieval City, both by Joseph and Frances Gies.

George R.R. Martin