Castle: A History of the Buildings that Shaped Medieval Britain

From the Publisher Beginning in the 11th century, when castles were first introduced to Britain, and ending in the 17th century, when they were largely abandoned, Castle charts an epic history, driven by figures like William the Conqueror, who, by building and besieging castles, shaped the fate of the nation. At the same time, it is a homely story of lesser–known individuals and how their lives were consumed by the castles they built. As historian Marc Morris shows us, there is more to castles than drawbridges and battlements. Grand or humble, a castle is first and foremost a home. It may look inhospitable from the outside, but the interior is all about luxury and comfort: grand halls, massive kitchens, and lavish private chambers—all of which made these buildings ideal homes for their owners. To understand castles—who built them, who lived in them, and why—is to understand the forces that shaped medieval Britain.