-Stokstad, the author of a well- regarded history of medieval art, has written an account that describes all aspects of medieval castles, with many specific examples and a rich collection of primary sources. Written for high school students and the general reader, the text provides a nuanced look at castles, with attention to their architecture, methods of fortification, methods of warfare, functions besides defense, inhabitants, their fate after the invention of gunpowder, and the romantic attachment to their architecture from the 18th century to the present. This volume focuses mainly on examples in England and France; it is supplemented nicely by examples in another book in this series, also written by a senior scholar, that focuses on the Crusades. —Art Book News Annual

-[B]lends thirty illustrations with twenty brief biographies of rulers, builders, and histories of medieval castles, reviewing both military and social systems to consider the construction and popularity of castles and other fortifications of their times. From different castle purposes to the symbolism of architecture, Medieval Castles is a highly recommended addition to Greenwood's Guides to Historic Events of the Medieval World series. —MBR Internet Bookwatch/Library Bookwatch