Castle : Stephen Biesty's Cross-Sections

Rating:
Summary: Great for adults, too!
Review: Although this book is marketed as a children's book, I highly recommend it for adults as well. As someone who is just becoming interested in medieval culture and castles, this was a great starting place for me.

Each two-page spread is dedicated to a different subject (castle structure, jobs, entertainment, weapons, etc.). I learned a lot about life in and around the castle in a very short time by reading all the little notes that pointed out all the different aspects of what was going on in the picture.

This will be a great help to me when I construct the miniature castle that I plan to make. It's also just a lot of fun to read!

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Summary: "Gruesome" details can be traumatizing to a child...
Review: Detail! Well, hold onto your stomach. My 9 year oldbrought the book to me and pointed out some things he didn't think heever wanted to see again. Small details that may otherwise be overlooked by a parent! Biesty has included illustrations of torture, including a gruesome depiction of someone being drawn and quartered. NOT for our family --- we took great pleasure in watching this title burn in our woodstove. My son felt partially vindicated by this "old-fashioned" book burning. Was this necessary, Mr. Biesty?

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Summary: Heather Idoni Doesn't Know What She Is Talking About!
Review: I think this book is so awsome. It has helped me do a number of reports and lots of research about castles. Heather Idoni who wrote the bad report of this book is one of those people who has the right opinion on society but not the right opinion one to solve it. Or otherwise, oppresive!

Rating:
Summary: Very detailed cross-sections of a Medieval Castle
Review: I was reading Michael Crichton's "Timeline," which involves an attack on a medieval castle, and was looking for something to help me better appreciate the details. One of the most useful books I found was "Castle: Stephen Biesty's Cross-Sections," because in addition to showing how castles were built and how they lived and worked, there is something of a narrative to this book. At the beginning we see an enemy army approaches and people from the town flee to the heavily fortified gatehouse to enter the shelter of the "Castle." At various points in the book we see the enemy attack and the castle being defended.

Of course, "Castle" does more than simply provide cross-sections of the title feature. All sorts of details about medieval life are jammed into this book by writer Richard Platt (who claims to have been a serf earlier in life) and illustrator Stephen Biesty. The feudal system is explained, as are arrow loops, how to test beer, tax demands, and finger pillories. Readers are encouraged to "find the enemy spy" as they read the book, and will discover dozens of minor unexplained details (e.g., a baby being born), that will have you looking carefully at every square inch of these drawings. The key to education, whether we are talking children or adults, is getting them to pay attention and "Castles" certainly gets its readers to do that.

Rating:
Summary: The Great Book
Review: I was reading Michael Crichton's "Timeline," which involves an attack on a medieval castle, and was looking for something to help me better appreciate the details. One of the most useful books I found was "Castle: Stephen Biesty's Cross-Sections," because in addition to showing how castles were built and how they lived and worked, there is something of a narrative to this book. At the beginning we see an enemy army approaches and people from the town flee to the heavily fortified gatehouse to enter the shelter of the "Castle." At various points in the book we see the enemy attack and the castle being defended.

Of course, "Castle" does more than simply provide cross-sections of the title feature. All sorts of details about medieval life are jammed into this book by writer Richard Platt (who claims to have been a serf earlier in life) and illustrator Stephen Biesty. The feudal system is explained, as are arrow loops, how to test beer, tax demands, and finger pillories. Readers are encouraged to "find the enemy spy" as they read the book, and will discover dozens of minor unexplained details (e.g., a baby being born), that will have you looking carefully at every square inch of these drawings. The key to education, whether we are talking children or adults, is getting them to pay attention and "Castles" certainly gets its readers to do that.

Rating:
Summary: Educational and Fun!
Review: Just seeing a castle from the outside, hardly does it justice. I mean, the things going on in this castle...you just can never imagine.

The Introduction shows the basics of the outside of the castle walls and roofing. Then the next section focuses on defense and siege. Who knew that sometimes castle commanders found uses for their trebuchets and provided the watching ladies with a preciesion bombardment of roses.

The Garrison section shows how the Feudal system worked and where they kept the treasure chests.

The Treadmill in the Building the Castle Section is not exactly one you might think of now. Children will enjoy this section, it has so many peope at work all over the castle.

The Trades and Skills section shows people making pottery. There are candle makers, carpenters, plumbers, tailors and even a Hermit cell where the hermit could study and be religious, even if they didn't agree with the church.

Living like a Lord and Food and Feasting, now those pages are quite good. Rules like: "Do not pick your teeth at the table with a knife," sounds like a good one to me.

Entertainment, livestock and produce, weapons and punishment are also covered.

Very informative and entertaining. You might also enjoy: DK Pockets Castles book, ISBN 0789420473 for even more information. With these two books, you about have castles covered!

~The Rebecca Review

Rating:
Summary: The Great Book
Review: This book is one of the best castle books I have. It is very detailed and informitive yet is great for children because of the colorful illustations. The layout is very good-starts in the front of the castle, moves throught the inner parts of the castle and eventually ends in the back. Though some picture are a little bit graphic, thats how medieval times were. I think if your looking for a castle book that is not to broad or in-depth than look no further than here.

Rating:
Summary: Cross-Sections Castle is an Awesome Book!
Review: This is an exceptional book that is intended for children aged 9 to 12, but is fascinating even for adult readers. You get to see and learn about a fully functional castle in it's heyday. A grand medieval castle is divided into it's many different subsections. Each part of the castle is shown and described in great detail. Its inhabitants, from the Royalty and their residential area, to the toiling peasants and craftsmen, to the military with their weaponry and defenses, are included. There is also a "Where's Waldo" type "Find the Spy" hidden in each cross section. While the squeamish may have some objection to the miniscule amount of material depicting the treatment of captured enemies, and some potty humor involving the functioning of the castle lavatory, I suggest it's a good opportunity for discussion as it really only enhances the thoroughness of the material. It is a good educational resource and a fun book to "read".

Rating:
Summary: Cross-Sections Castle is an Awesome Book
Review: This is an exceptional book that is intended for children aged 9 to 12, but is fascinating even for adult readers. You get to see and learn about a fully functional castle in it's heyday. A grand medieval castle is divided into it's many different subsections. Each part of the castle is shown and described in great detail. Its inhabitants, from the Royalty and their residential area, to the toiling peasants and craftsmen, to the military with their weaponry and defenses, are included. There is also a "Where's Waldo" type "Find the Spy" hidden in each cross section. While the squeamish may have some objection to the miniscule amount of material depicting the treatment of captured enemies, and some potty humor involving the functioning of the castle lavatory, I suggest it's a good opportunity for discussion as it really only enhances the thoroughness of the material. It is a good educational resource and a fun book to "read".

Rating:
Summary: excellent introduction to castles
Review: This is really a wonderful book about castles. I'd easily placeit with David Macauley's classic "Castles." What reallymakes this book is its wonderful cross-section illustrations of castles which make the architecture of the castle easily accessible to the reader, child or adult. As castle model builder, this book was a "god-send." I have used the many illustrations and comment to make blueprints for my castle reproductions...the ultimate compliment to this book came from my nephews (4 & 5yo) who ask their uncle every visit to pull down this book and read about castles!