When you come right down to it, my favorite thing about living in Europe are the castles. Castle is pitched as a book that explores the history of these wonderful buildings. I picked it up in eager anticipation.
Morris is a gifted author, and his account is well-written. You do get a decent overview of the rise and fall of castles, and the general types of construction (and how castles evolved) over the centuries. However, it feels more like a history book with some stories of specific castles thrown in, than a general overview of the structures. That makes it more readable and lively, but less informative on the subject than I would have liked. I admit it is hard, though, to be complete on the subject, so overall, I liked it.
Since a few specific castles are discussed in detail, if you're going to any of the following, I'd recommend reading the sections pertaining to them, as it will heighten your enjoyment:
Beaumaris, Conwy, Caernarfon, Harlech (North Wales)
Raglan (South Wales)
Tower of London, Rochester, Bodiam (South England)
Threave, Urquhart, Craigievar (Scotland)
Rating: A-
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