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.
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"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
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Marc Morris is an historian and broadcaster specializing in the Middle Ages. He is the author of several books, including The Norman Conquest, Kings and Castles, and Castle: A History of the Buildings That Shaped Medieval Britain. In 2003 he presented the highly acclaimed TV series Castle. He has also contributed to other history programs on radio and television. An expert on medieval monarchy and aristocracy, and a fellow of the Royal Historical Society, he has written numerous articles for History Today, BBC History Magazine, and Heritage Today.
Derek Perkins is a professional narrator and voice actor. He has earned numerous AudioFile Earphones Awards and the prestigious Audie Award for Best Narration, as well as numerous Society of Voice Arts nominations. AudioFile magazine named him a Best Voice consecutively in 2014, 2015, and 2016. Augmented by a knowledge of three foreign languages and a facility with accents, he has narrated numerous titles in a wide range of fiction and nonfiction genres.