Christopher Gravett

A solid and accessible overview of the Norman rulers of England: from the first appearance of their Viking ancestors in northwest France, to William's conquest of England in 1066, to the death of Stephen in 1154. It is also the history of ruthless ambition, rivalry and war between brothers and cousins. Chapters: 1. Counts of Rouen 2. Richard II and his Sons 3. William of Normandy 4. The Conqueror of England 5. William Rufus 6. Henry I 7. Robert Curthose and William Clito 8. Stephen 9. The Norman Dynasty

Here is a spectacular and informative guide to the castles of the Middle Ages and the lives of the people who lived in them. Superb, full-color photographs of castles around the world, plus specially built models, offer a unique and revealing "eyewitness" view of medieval life, from a castle's construction to its destruction in a siege. See a medieval lavatory, a giant crossbow on wheels, how prisoners were kept secure in dungeons, a herald in full regalia, and castles used by Crusaders in Syria and samurai warriors in Japan. Learn how castles got their water during a siege, how besiegers tunneled under castle walls, how the Normans built castles in a hurry, how the first guns worked, why round towers were better than square ones, and what a castellan's job entailed. Discover how enemies climbed castle walls, what was on the menu at a typical banquet, why many castles had resident carpenters and metalworkers, why Crusader castles were so well built, and much, much more.