Product Ref: GH-002
Castles and Fortresses by R R Sellman (Second Hand)
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Castles and Fortresses by R. R. Sellman is a compelling and accessible introduction to Britain’s defensive architecture, written by a historian with a gift for clarity and narrative sweep. Sellman traces the evolution of fortification from the earliest earthworks to the imposing stone strongholds that came to dominate the medieval landscape, explaining not only how these structures were built but why they mattered — politically, militarily, and socially. His approach blends architectural detail with human context, showing how each castle reflects the anxieties, ambitions, and shifting power structures of its age.
The book moves confidently through the centuries, exploring Norman keeps, motte‑and‑bailey foundations, great baronial fortresses, and later coastal defences shaped by gunpowder and changing warfare. Sellman’s prose is direct and engaging, making complex engineering intelligible without losing the romance and drama that castles naturally evoke. Photographs, diagrams, and maps enrich the text, offering readers a clear sense of scale, setting, and construction.
ISBN : n/a