There are a lot of measurements in the book, how large the castle is, the size and shape of rooms. It describes what materials were used in building the castle walls. As a fan of castles full stop, this was like a dream book. All I can say is that if you are a fan of castles, you will love this book. Not only does Kiernan talk about the incredible feat of creating the home, but she discusses the lives of George and Edith, both of whom contributed to politics, education, and forestry. And, of course, quite a few historical fiction romance castle books allow us to time travel throughout history, enticing us with forbidden love, cozy fireplaces, and brooding owners.

As you read the book you will learn much about the evolution of castles. The book is beautifully designed and illustrated. In Dodie Smith's I Capture the Castle, 17-year-old Cassandra Mortmain writes a journal of her life with her eccentric family in a rented (and crumbling) Suffolk castle. The rich American brothers who actually own the castle turn up: surely one of them will marry one of the impecunious Mortmain sisters? The first gothic novel, Horace Walpole's The Castle of Otranto, naturally took its title from an exemplary Italian castle, complete with a turret-room prison, cloisters and underground passages, whence the beautiful Isabella flees from the tyrant Manfred, lord of the castle and her would-be despoiler.An interesting, well researched and informative read that helped to learn more about castles and how they were built. I liked it a lot. A very interesting work both for those who simply seek knowledge on a subject as transcendental as the castles and fortresses, and for those modellers, including myself, who try to document as much as possible when it comes to recreating our constructions in miniature.

Pin Did you find new books with castles to read? Save this list for later, and travel around the world with The Uncorked Librarian. Learn more about the construction of Asheville’s Biltmore Estate, a property owned by George and Edith Vanderbilt.Some of the best fantasy stories about castles transport us across the globe, especially to places like England and Scotland. If you want to know all about medieval castles, this book is for you. It covers the different designs and possible builders of them, everything from foundation to the towers and decorations. NetGalley, Caidyn Young I had a few worries about this book: I thought it might be a bit dry and long winded, it might involve a lot of referencing to the TV show. I didn't need to worry about either as this book was well-written, informative, informal and generally a joy to read. Morris has a style that's like Dan Jones crossed with Bill Bryson. A great reference and academic read covering how castles were constructed in the Middle Ages. The diagrams, detailed information, and top notch bibliography set this book apart from others like it. Researchers in an academic library would only need this text to accomplish in depth research on the topic. It is definitely a more technical read, but that is what makes it such a great resource for researchers. NetGalley, Kelsea Whaley