Architecture: castles Books

Book SynopsisBilly Colfer's Wexford Castles expands the IRISH LANDSCAPES series by taking a thematic approach, while still staying loyal to the central landscape focus. Rather than adapting a narrowly architectural approach, he situates these buildings in a superbly reconstructed historical, social, and cultural milieu. County Wexford has three strikingly different regions - the Anglo-Norman south, the hybridised middle and the Gaelic north - which render it a remarkable version in parvo of the wider island. Colfer's wide-angle lens takes in so much than the castles themselves, as he ranges widely and deeply in reading these striking buildings as texts, revealing the cultural assumptions and historical circumstances which shaped them. In this most cosmopolitan of counties, we range far and wide in search of the wide-spreading roots of its cultural landscape - from the Crusades and the Mani peninsula in Greece to the Bristol Channel, from Crac des Chevaliers to Westminster, from the Viking north and the cold Atlantic to the warm Mediterranean south. The book breaks new ground in exploring the long-run cultural shadow cast by the Anglo-Normans and their castles, as this appears in the Gothic Revival, in the poetry of Yeats and in the surprisingly profuse crop of Wexford historians and writers. While most books on a single architectural form can end up visually monotonous, creativity has been lavished on this volume in terms of keeping the images varied, fresh and constantly appealing. The result is a sympathetic and innovative treatment of the castles, understood not just as a mere architectural form, but as keys to unlocking the mentalite of those who lived in them. Wexford Castles: landscape, context and settlement is a worthy conclusion of Billy's Colfer's superb trilogy of landscape studies.Table of ContentsLocation and Landscape Continental Connections Castles in Europe Anglo-Norman Colonisation Thirteenth-century Castles: Conquest and Colony Ferns Castle The Shifting Frontier Social Turmoil Defending the Colony Fortified Churches Tower-House Economy Tower-House Landscapes Tower-House Architecture and Typology The Wexford Fortified Hall-House: Late Sixteenth-century Transitional Residences Endgame Legacy Gazetteer of Tower Houses with Surviving Fabric Appendix 1: Tower Houses: Condition and Documentation Appendix 2: Fortified hall-houses: Condition and Documentation Endnotes Figure sources and attributions Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisIn the 1880s two Edinburgh architects began to survey, measure and sketch the castles of Scotland, travelling the length and breadth of the country on trains, bicycles and on foot. Together they produced the five magnificent volumes of The Castellated and Domestic Architecture of Scotland, an unrivalled work of research that surveys more than 700 of Scotland's castellated buildings, ranging from great medieval fortresses to small lairds' houses with pepper-pot turrets, and is illustrated with thousands of sketches and plans.The first part of A Passion for Castles tells the life stories of David MacGibbon and Thomas Ross and their work as Edinburgh architects before they embarked on their magisterial survey, revealing interesting and previously unknown details about the two men. The second part of the book sets their enormously ambitious castles project in its historical context, and describes how MacGibbon and Ross managed to achieve their pioneering, systematic and comprehensive survey.The final part of the book provides a regional overview of the current status of all the castles surveyed by MacGibbon and Ross, followed by a thematic exploration of those that have been lost, those that have been transformed and those at risk of collapse, before posing questions about what the future holds for the castles of Scotland.

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Book SynopsisJapan's ancient castles provide deep insights into the country's compelling military history. Discover the secrets of Japan's feudal past by exploring the most famous castles of the Samurai era. The enormous stone walls, multi-level towers, and sophisticated defense systems are not simply impressive fortresses, but spectacular works of Japanese architecture, constructed without the use of steel or modern equipment. These monumental structures fulfilled a need for protection without sacrificing aesthetic values. Understanding the cultural contexts of these Samurai castles helps create a better understanding of Japanese culture today. In this fascinating Japanese castle book you will discover the rich history and creators of well-known castles such as Himeji, Osaka, and Nijo that you would otherwise need to travel to Japan to experience in person. Chronicling the story of each castle individually conveys a greater understanding of how and why they were built, and identifies their singular features for historians, architecture aficionados, world travelers, and Japanophiles alike. With over two hundred colour images, numerous diagrams, maps, and detailed descriptions, Samurai Castles is the most comprehensive Japanese history book on this intriguing topic.Trade Review"In her new book Samurai Castles, author Dr. Jennifer Mitchelhill and photographer David Green spent over three years documenting 24 of Japan's samurai-era castles. The idea? To understand the aesthetic details, cultural values and historic happenings surrounding these architectural marvels." --CNN Travel"With great beauty, this book uncovers the great function of these epic buildings and how they worked. The book is highly visual, packed with maps and photos which are a testament to Japanese design and building." -- Martial Arts & Action Movies blog "…focuses on some of the country's best castles and the stories behind them." --GaijinPot.com

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Book SynopsisSJ King loves museums, libraries, and building machines from scrap. King can usually be found exploring - from investigating tiny bugs, to trekking up enormous mountains.

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Book SynopsisWelsh Castle Builders reveals the marks left on Welsh history by the Savoyards of the Holy Roman Empire.

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Book SynopsisThe Wars of the Roses is one of the most dramatic and fascinating periods in medieval history. Much has been written about the leading personalities, bitter dynastic rivalries, political intrigues, and the rapid change of fortune on the battlefields of England and Wales. However, there is one aspect that has been often overlooked, the role of castles in the conflict. Dan Spencer's original study traces their use from the outbreak of civil war in the reign of Henry VI in the 1450s to the triumph of Henry VII some thirty years later. Using a wide range of narrative, architectural, financial and administrative sources, he sheds new light on the place of castles within the conflict, demonstrating their importance as strategic and logistical centres, bases for marshalling troops, and as fortresses Dan Spencer's book provides a fascinating contribution to the literature on the Wars of the Roses and to the study of siege warfare in the Middle Ages.

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Book SynopsisIsolated, frozen to the bone and with no way out… Kemp is back1356. Burnt Candlemas. King Edward III invades Scotland in the dead of winter to punish the Scots for their recent attack on Berwick.When the fleet bringing supplies for his army is scattered by a storm, it seems God himself is punishing the English for the arson of a Scottish church. Wrongly blamed for the fire, archer Martin Kemp finds himself in chains, a victim of the king’s wrath. As the army retreats to England, it is ambushed by the Scots in the whiteout of a blizzard. Kemp is cut off with a handful of men, desperate to find their way home from a bleak and hostile land. But the knight who takes command of this motley band has an agenda of his own, one that will put all of their lives in jeopardy…An enthralling historical adventure, full of intrigue and suspense, perfect for fans of Bernard Cornwell, Conn Iggulden and Matthew Harffy.

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Book SynopsisWhether ruined or opulent, castles have the power to fire the imagination. For almost a millennium, they have studded the Irish countryside. The concept of using building methods to protect territory was introduced from overseas in the twelfth century, when the Irish term caislean began to appear in manuscripts. By the sixteenth century, Ireland had become the most castellated country in Europe.In this latest book, Tarquin Blake takes us on a breathtaking tour of Anglo-Norman fortresses, medieval towers, fortified houses and the neo-Gothic piles of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The castles - including lesser-known gems like Fiddaun Castle in County Galway as well as luxury hotels such as Ashford Castle in County Mayo - are captured in atmospheric photos and brought to life through the true stories of the families whose adventures, struggles and ambitions are reflected in the fortified residences they constructed. By pairing the castles' romantic appearances with in-depth tales of siege, intrigue, conflict and capture, Blake reveals our rich past and startling architectural legacy. Exploring Ireland's Castles is sure to delight any history buff or armchair traveller.

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Book SynopsisThe capture of Jerusalem by the First Crusade in 1099 signalled the beginning of an armed struggle in Palestine and throughout the Eastern Mediterranean which lasted until the 15th century. It was a war dominated by the building, securing and besieging of castles rather than by pitched battles. Kristian Molin covers the military history of the crusades on a wider geographical scale than previous historians, taking in Armenia, Cyprus and Greece as well as the Holy Land. He also shows the role of castles as administrative, judicial and social centres in times of peace as well as in war. "Unknown Crusader Castles" provides a fresh perspective on the history of the crusades.

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Book SynopsisThe reconstructed Berliner Schloss in the heart of the German capital is both a monument of Baroque architecture and a vital new cultural building in the city. The art history, architecture and sculpture of the palace’s masterful façades by Andreas Schlüter are brought to life here in words and pictures. The Berliner Schloss marks the reinstatement of the point of reference for the urban plan of the historical centre of the capital: through the Baroque masterpiece by Andreas Schlüter the boulevard Unter den Linden and the historic buildings of the Lustgarten acquire once more a meaningful interconnection. Most of the authors are involved in this major project. They explain with the help of the impressive photographs by Leo Seidel the fascinating construction process, the imagery of the Baroque sandstone façade, the technology and the craftsmanship behind its reconstruction as well as the architectural concept of the building.

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Book SynopsisFrom coast to coast, the English landscape is still richly studded with castles both great and small. This is a riveting architectural study that sets this legion of buildings in historical context, tracing their development from the Norman Conquest in 1066 through the civil wars of the 1640s.Trade ReviewWinner of the Large Format Illustrated Book of the Year Award for the 2011 Spear's Book Awards, in association with City Private Bank -- Large Format Illustrated Book of the Year Award * Spear's Book Awards / City Private Bank *“Impressive . . . a grand narrative . . . [with] a splendid selection of color photographs . . . Definitive.”—David R. Conn, Library Journal -- David R. Conn * Library Journal *“[This] book is not only handsome, but reassuringly substantial . . . informed and thoughtful . . . lavishly illustrated . . . [and] fascinating.”—Stephen Brumwell, Wall Street Journal -- Stephen Brumwell * Wall Street Journal *". . . this new volume by Goodall will be an indispensable reference and should be added to every library collection. It is a gorgeously produced book . . . written throughout in an accessible style. . . . Essential."—L. Nees, Choice -- L. Nees * Choice *“This is the best kind of art and architecture book.”—Wall Street Journal (selection as a best nonfiction book of 2011) * Wall Street Journal *Shortlisted for the William M. B. Berger Prize for British Art History, as given by the Berger Collection Educational Trust and The British Art Journal -- Willam M. B. Berger Prize * Berger Collection Educational Trust and The British Art Journal *“One could not ask for a better guide . . . Goodall is a fine, efficient storyteller. He deftly creates scene after scene in English political and castle history.”—Daniel Taylor, Books and Culture -- Daniel Taylor * Books and Culture * Winner of the 2013 Historians of British Art Book Prize in the Pre-1800 category, given by the Historians of British Art. -- 2013 Historians of British Art Book Prize in the Pre-1800 category * Historians of British Art *

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Book SynopsisThis book reveals the fascinating stories, dramatic events and colorful characters that make up the Tower of London's remarkably long and varied history. Written from a social perspective, it presents a fresh appraisal of this world-famous site and sets it apart from any other available book. It offers a comprehensive history of the fortress, from its Roman origins right up to the present day. With over 200 color illustrations and a comprehensive and chronological narrative divided into thematic chapters, it conveys brilliantly the many and varied stories which make up the Tower's history - from the menagerie and royal mint to the roll call of its famous prisoners. The story of the Tower of London is, in many respects, the story of England. When building work began on the fortress, the capital was little more than a small town with no more than 10,000 inhabitants. Almost 1,000 years later, the fortress still stands as a symbol of royal power, pomp and ceremony, tradition, heritage, military might, treachery and torture. Its myriad roles are reflected in the complex series of buildings that make up this formidable, magnificent fortress - an iconic site that still attracts millions of visitors from across the world each year.

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Book SynopsisThis fascinating selection of photographs traces some of the many ways in which the castles of Kent have changed and developed over the last century.Trade Review'Some of these structures have remained in almost constant use over the years; others have recently been restored to their former glory; several have fallen into ruin or been lost completely, only earthworks remaining. All offer an insight into the dynamic nature of these integral features of Kent's past, and its present.' -- Current Archaeology Magazine, January 2023

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Book SynopsisPaul Coby here proposes a new system for the recording and mapping of Roman forts and fortifications that integrates all the data, including size, dating and identification of occupying units. Application of these methods allows analysis that brings new insights into the placement of these forts, the units garrisoning them and the strategy of conquest and defence they underpinned. This is a new and original contribution to the long-running debate over whether the Roman Empire had a coherent grand strategy or merely reacted piecemeal to emerging needs. Although the author focusses on several major campaigns in Britain as case studies, the author stresses that his method's are also applicable to elsewhere in the Empire. Lavishly illustrated with colour maps, the book is also supported by a website and blogs, encouraging further investigation and discussion.

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Book SynopsisIn Castle Builders, Malcolm Hislop looks at the hugely popular subject of castles from the unusual perspective of design and construction. In this general introduction to the subject, we discover something of the personalities behind their creation - the architects and craftsmen - and, furthermore, the techniques they employed, and how style and technology was disseminated. Castle Builders takes both a thematic and a chronological approach to the design and construction of castles, providing the reader with clear lines of development. Themes include earth, timber and stone construction techniques, the evolution of the great tower, the development of military engineering, the progression of domestic accommodation, and the degree to which aesthetics contributed to castle design. AUTHOR: Malcolm Hislop is a buildings archaeologist and author with a special interest in medieval buildings. His doctoral thesis was based around the career of the Durham master mason, John Lewyn, one of the most prolific castle builders of the fourteenth century, and he has continued to maintain a keen interest in the process of medieval building design and construction. He is the author of John Lewyn of Durham, How to Build a Cathedral and How to Read Castles. Born in Yorkshire, he now lives in north-east Wales. 150 colour illustrations

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Book SynopsisAn innovative examination of heritage politics in Japan, showing how castles have been used to re-invent and recapture competing versions of the pre-imperial past and project possibilities for Japan''s future. Oleg Benesch and Ran Zwigenberg argue that Japan''s modern transformations can be traced through its castles. They examine how castle preservation and reconstruction campaigns served as symbolic ways to assert particular views of the past and were crucial in the making of an idealized premodern history. Castles have been used to craft identities, to create and erase memories, and to symbolically join tradition and modernity. Until 1945, they served as physical and symbolic links between the modern military and the nation''s premodern martial heritage. After 1945, castles were cleansed of military elements and transformed into public cultural spaces that celebrated both modernity and the pre-imperial past. What were once signs of military power have become symbols of Japan''s ideaTrade Review'An exciting history of Japan from the Tokugawa period to the present, as seen through the lens of its castles. The book explores their shifting meaning within the context of Japan's drive to modernize, its militarism, construction of empire, wartime devastation, postwar recovery, and search for meaning in a postmodern world.' Constantine N. Vaporis, University of Maryland, Baltimore County'In describing the life of Japanese castles, Benesch and Zwigenberg have taken an inherently interesting topic left unexplored by academics and given us a model of how to launch a new field of study with grace and aplomb. There is much here to satisfy students, scholars, and the interested public.' Michael Wert, Marquette University, Wisconsin'Oleg Benesch and Ran Zwigenberg's Japan's Castles is a timely addition to the growing body of literature on historical memory and heritage in modern Japan … this groundbreaking work will change the ways readers will look at castles during future visits … this is a pioneering work that persuasively demonstrates the strengths of memory studies based on a methodological combination of field studies, archival research, and the analysis of a broad range of newspapers and periodicals. The increasing accessibility of such sources allows the contemporary historian to present a much more nuanced analysis than was possible in the past, and Benesch and Zwigenberg deserve the highest praise for having achieved this goal and for weaving the abundant information gathered together to produce a coherent, richly documented, and extremely stimulating volume.' Sven Saaler, The Journal of Asian Studies'In this well-researched book, Benesch (Univ. of York) and Zwigenberg (Pennsylvania State Univ.) offer an in-depth historical look into the vicissitudes of Japanese castles in modern times … this is a satisfying read!' Q. E. Wang, Choice'For the general reader, this is a book written, despite its clear academic rigor, in an eminently accessible style that will greatly enhance a historical or touristic interest in Japan's castles. For the academic reader, it is full of valuable arguments and information pertinent not only to the niche field of castle studies, but to many areas of Japanese studies and/or modern history. The authors have done a particularly good job of demonstrating the relevance of castles to many of the mainstream issues in post-1850s Japan, making their book highly recommended for inclusion on any undergraduate or postgraduate reading list relating to modern Japanese history. Indeed, Japan's Castles indicates the strong potential of castle studies to form an integral part of our understanding of the social, cultural, economic, and political development of modern Japan.' Philip Seaton, Monumenta Nipponica'Benesch and Zwigenberg draw on an impressive array of sources, ranging from official documents to local periodicals. The authors also include several fascinating visual sources that will help readers understand some of the more unorthodox trends in modern castle architecture; and many of the images are simply delightful in their own right. Overall, this is a sophisticated but accessible treatment of the eponymous subject, and is thus essential reading for specialists in modern Japanese history. Scholars interested in the intersections between urban history, politics and architectural preservation will also find much of interest. Benesch and Zwigenberg have made an invaluable contribution to the field, which will undoubtedly inspire some exciting scholarship in the coming years.' D. Colin Jaundrill, The English Historical Review'Benesch and Zwigenberg argue that from the start of the Meiji period to present time, castles of various extraction- whether original to the Sengoku period, restored, reconstructed, or newly invented - have continuously occupied a central place in the politics, militarization, economy, religion, and cultural identity of cities across the main islands of Japan. As physical structures and symbolic features, castles carry the baggage of premodern heritage while also igniting new aspirations for national unity and regional revitalization. The book steers us toward the realization that the majority of castles standing today reveal much less about Japanese bushido, traditional architecture, and esprit de corps than we would like to believe.' Alice Y. Tseng, The Journal of Japanese Studies'With Japan's Castles, Oleg Benesch and Ran Zwigenberg have provided a uniquely valuable addition to English language scholarship on their subject, one that has much to offer to anyone with an interest in Japan studies and cultural heritage. This volume, within the context of the authors' wider work on the subject, will remain the definitive work on the heritage politics of castles in modern Japan. The authors ably explore how castles have been used to present the country's feudal past and put to practical use in both the militarised imperial state and the demilitarised postwar period, thus presenting Japan's castles as a mirror for its changing self-conception as a modern nation state … This work is certainly a necessary addition to any library on modern Japan, and I recommend it unreservedly.' Jon Morris, Social Science Japan JournalTable of ContentsIntroduction; Part I. From Feudalism to Empire: 1. Castles and the transition to the imperial state; 2. The discovery of castles, 1877–1912; 3. Castles, civil society, and the paradoxes of 'Taisho militarism'; 4. Castles in war and peace: celebrating modernity, empire, and war; Part II. From Feudalism to the Edge of Space: 5. Castles in war and peace II: Kokura, Kanazawa, and the rehabilitation of the nation; 6. 'Fukkō': Hiroshima Castle rises from the ashes; 7. Escape from the center: castles and the search for local identity; 8. Japan's new castle builders: recapturing tradition and culture; Conclusions.

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Book SynopsisThe widespread construction of castles in Britain began as soon as Duke William of Normandy set foot on the shores of England in 1066. This illustrated book presents a cultural and historical tour of Britain's medieval castles. It will interest students researching architecture, the Middle Ages, or military history, as well as general readers.Trade ReviewThis book is an overview of castles in the British Isles, almost exclusively in England and Wales, and is lucidly written by an unabashed amateur enthusiast. It seeks to be analytical, addressing offensive, defensive, and residential functions, and rightly emphasizing the sheer prestige of castles, subdividing chapters into topics such as gates, bridges, and towers. * Choice *The founder of Castles Unlimited, which promotes their appreciation and preservation, Hull has written two previous surveys of castles, but here she focuses not so much on particular castles as on features of castles built in Britain from the 11th to the 15th centuries. She explains how the architectural elements and construction techniques allowed the castles to serve simultaneously as offensive weapons, defensive strongholds, residences, and status symbols. Raglan Castle in Wales is her detailed case study. * Reference & Research Book News/Art Book News Annual 2007 *Table of ContentsIllustrations Acknowledgments Introduction: What Is a Castle? chapter 1 Castles as Offensive Weapons chapter 2 Castles as Defensive Strongholds chapter 3 Castles as Residences chapter 4 Castles as Status Symbols chapter 5 Raglan Castle: A Properly Fortified Military Residence chapter 6 What Is a Castle? Revisited Epilogue Notes Glossary Bibliography Index

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