Castles (An Original Bantam Gift Book)

Rating:
Summary: Buy It! Buy It! Buy It!
Review: Amazing! Alan Lee is an incredable painter/illustrator. His work in this books brings to life not only the Castles he paints, but the people and the time in which these castles are located. The work spans historical as well as fictional locations, all of which make me wish that there was a print store right next door. This book is perfect for children and adults alike. Awesome, in the truest meaning of the word.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful look at castles
Review: This book is a visual map of the castle that is a must for every history/romance/medieval buff. It can be too conplicated to imagine all of the inner and outer structures of a working castle. Lee's work can give the reader a firm foundation to build on with his fantastic illustrations.

Rating:
Summary: A look into the castles of legend, history , and fiction.
Review: When I first read this book when it came out way back in 86, I was blown away. The artwork was the best I had ever seen in a book like this, and the retelling of different myths to go along with each castle presented read like a fantasy story for history buffs. It covered classic celtic strongholds, all the stories surrounding the Arthuranian mythos, faerie castles, and those fortresses of the likes of Ghormenghast and Edgar Allen Poe's House of Usher. I would have to reccommend this book for all those lovers of fantasy and of great art.