A Guide to the Medieval Castles of England by Malcolm Hislop

⭐Publisher Featured Review ​

I love castles and I like to visit as many of them - or the sites at least - as I can. So it was with great pleasure that I welcomed this book compiled by the archaeologist Malcolm Hislop.

It is very much a reference book with the most significant English castles listed alphabetically. Under the listing is brief historical information about the style of castle, its current condition, who owns it, whether it is open to the public and so on. Backed up by lots of photographs and floor plans with just over a dozen stunning colour plates at the end.

The introduction justifies the choice of castles included (there are over four hundred) and why some regions are more represented than others. There is an extensive glossary to the architectural terms and a section on the purpose of the book and how to use it. Although highly detailed within the symbols and abbreviations, this is a very accessible book. It's rather like reading a map when deciphering what features are on the landscape and castle features.

It is a tad too large to keep in the glove compartment of my car, but is is invaluable when going castle hopping. All the information needed is there in a compact format and when cross-referenced with castles familiar to me, everything is there. An essential book for anyone interested in history or architecture and the beautiful cover will grace any book collection. Highly recommended.

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Published by Pen & Sword History on 31 January 2024.
Advance review copy supplied by the publisher.

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