English Castles

Book excerpt: From the Queen's residence at Windsor Castle to dramatic Alnwick (‘The Harry Potter Castle'), from the scene of royal coronations and funerals at Westminster Abbey to the gruesome tortures and executions of the Tower of London, and from the commanding sentinel of Dover Castle (‘the Key of England') to the mystic environs of Glastonbury Abbey, all of historic England is here. Immersed in history, visually imposing and set in stunning locations, medieval castles and cathedrals are to many the essence of England's great past. This full-colour, beautifully photographed book celebrates 60 of the grandest and most historically significant of these formidable stone strongholds. Around these striking images, Rodney Castleden has weaved a fascinating and detailed text, telling not just of the construction, history and often destruction of these magnificent structures, but also the human stories from behind their ancient walls. These are the stories of Kings, Queens and feuding lords; conquest, war and bloody conflict; treason, revenge and murder...