Osprey Publishing Fortress Series No. 18

Norman Stone Castles (2) Europe 950-1204
By Christopher Gravett

Price £10.99/$16.95
A review by David Lanchester

This latest offering from Osprey follows neatly on from its companion volume, 'Norman Stone Castles (1) The British Isles 1066 - 1216 Osprey Publishing Fortress Series No.13.'

The Duchy of Normandy was created in 911 by the French to accommodate Rollo and his Scandinavian followers. These newcomers quickly assimilated the feudal culture and some of the first stone building started in the mid 10th century. The books introduction follows this through to the expansion of Norman influence in Southern Italy and Sicily. As with the previous title this is followed by a very good chronology.

The castles design and development is explored with an in depth view of Chateau Gaillard. Aided by many photographs of the present buildings plus the wonderful work of the artist Adam Hook, who affords the reader a birds-eye view of what these magnificent buildings must have looked like at the end of the 12th century.

The following chapters deal with the castle at war, the principles of defence and what life must have been like for the inhabitants. Here Christopher takes care in not repeating himself from the other volume. The fate of the castles, deals with the loss of the Duchy to the French King Philip Augustus in 1204 to the devastation of World War II, and subsequent restorations.

The last chapter deals in brief with visiting the castles today. Christopher provides an alphabetical listing for each area, Normandy, Southern Italy and Sicily. This is an absolute must to take with you if you are jetting off to foreign parts now or in the future.

As mentioned, the book has many fine pieces of artwork from Adam Hook and lots of photographs in both colour and monochrome. There is also a decent bibliography to aid the search for further information.

Well worth a place on your bookshelf and to pack for that trip abroad. Highly recommended.