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Life in a Medieval Castle (Medieval Life) Paperback – Illustrated, October 6, 2015

by Joseph Gies (Author), Frances Gies (Author)
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 517 ratings
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"Some particular books I found useful for A Game of Thrones and its sequels deserve mention... Life in a Medieval Castle and Life in a Medieval City, both by Joseph and Frances Gies." —George R.R. Martin, author of the series A Song of Ice and Fire

Medieval history comes alive in Joseph and Frances Gies's Life in a Medieval Castle, used as a research resource by George R. R. Martin in creating the world of Game of Thrones.

Newly reissued for the first time in decades, Life in a Medieval Castle is the bestselling classic that has introduced countless readers to the wonders of the Middle Ages. Focusing on a castle called Chepstow on the border between England and Wales, acclaimed Medievalists Joseph and Frances Gies offer an exquisite portrait of what day-to-day life was actually like during the era, and of the key role the castle played. The Gieses write eloquently about the many people whose lives revolved around the castle, from the lord and lady to the commoners of the surrounding village. We discover what lords and serfs alike would have worn, eaten, and done for leisure; the songs sung; and the codes of sexual conduct that maintained order. We learn of the essential role of honor in medieval culture, the initiation process undertaken by knights, and how castles attempted to keep the constant threats of outside violence at bay.

Exhaustively researched and as engaging as any novel, Life in a Medieval Castle is the definitive text for anyone wishing to learn more about this fascinating era.

Previous slide of product details
  1. Part of series
    Medieval Life
  2. Print length
    288 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Harper Perennial
  5. Publication date
    October 6, 2015
  6. Dimensions
    5.31 x 0.65 x 8 inches
  7. ISBN-10
    9780062414793
  8. ISBN-13
    978-0062414793
  9. Lexile measure
    1380L
  10. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“Some particular books I found useful for A Game of Thrones and its sequels deserve mention. ... Life in a Medieval Castle and Life in a Medieval City, both by Joseph and Frances Gies.” — George R.R. Martin, author of the A Song of Ice and Fire series

“The Gieses succeed in making a remote and unfamiliar world accessible.” — Kirkus Reviews

“The authors allow medieval man and woman to speak for themselves through selections from past journals, songs, even account books.” — Time

From the Back Cover

Medieval history comes alive in Joseph and Frances Gies's Life in a Medieval Castle, used as a research resource by George R. R. Martin in creating the world of A Game of Thrones.

Newly reissued for the first time in decades, Life in a Medieval Castle is the bestselling classic that has introduced countless readers to the wonders of the Middle Ages. Focusing on a castle called Chepstow on the border between England and Wales, acclaimed Medievalists Joseph and Frances Gies offer an exquisite portrait of what day-to-day life was actually like during the era, and of the key role the castle played. The Gieses write eloquently about the many people whose lives revolved around the castle, from the lord and lady to the commoners of the surrounding village. We discover what lords and serfs alike would have worn, eaten, and done for leisure; the songs sung; and the codes of sexual conduct that maintained order. We learn of the essential role of honor in medieval culture, the initiation process undertaken by knights, and how castles attempted to keep the constant threats of outside violence at bay.

Exhaustively researched and as engaging as any novel, Life in a Medieval Castle is the definitive text for anyone wishing to learn more about this fascinating era.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0062414798
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Harper Perennial; Reissue edition (October 6, 2015)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 288 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780062414793
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0062414793
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 1380L
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.31 x 0.65 x 8 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 517 ratings

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  1. Joseph Gies

    Joseph Gies

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  2. Frances Gies

    Frances Gies

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Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
517 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book very detailed, informative, and straightforward. They also describe it as a good, enjoyable read for medieval fans.

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DetailReadabilityReproduction quality
33 customers mention "Detail"30 positive3 negative

Customers find the book filled with interesting details and informative. They say it provides a step-by-step analysis of various castles and manors. Readers also mention the book is well-researched and presented in a readable format.

"A very readable, extremely well organized survey that brings us close to life in and around castles of the 10-12th centuries, mainly in England and..." Read more

"...companion to the author's Life in a Medieval Village and provides an excellent summary of the seasonal relationships between the villagers and the..." Read more

"Good book, well written. Plenty of details. A little dry at some parts. Maybe too many details. 3 1/2 stars." Read more

"...Not only does it give a detailed insight into everyday life and "management" of a castle, it also describes the politics in and around it...." Read more

21 customers mention "Readability"21 positive0 negative

Customers find the book very good, interesting, and enjoyable. They appreciate the excellent brief description of what it was like in and around the medieval era. Readers also mention the book is thorough and engaging enough to not be dull.

"...In conclusion, the books is an excellent resource for the reader interested in reading for information gathering purposes, but perhaps not for the..." Read more

"Good book, well written. Plenty of details. A little dry at some parts. Maybe too many details. 3 1/2 stars." Read more

"Great book and has opened my eyes to how people truly lived during these historical times." Read more

"...All in all, an entertaining and well written book." Read more

4 customers mention "Reproduction quality"0 positive4 negative

Customers find the photographic reproductions in the book very poor. They mention the black and white photos are badly reproduced, printed with high contrast, and indistinguishable.

"...will age quickly, the many excellent black and white photos are so badly reproduced that some are nearly indecipherable...." Read more

"...are many photographs of castles throughout, but they are printed with such high contrast as to appear more as attempts at modern art than useful..." Read more

"The quality of the print is pathetic. The photos are indistinguishable and of shocking quality. The cover keeps bending in a circle...." Read more

"Interesting but the graphics are.............." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

Robert Kleinberg
5.0 out of 5 stars First rate book, poorly produced by HarperCollins
Reviewed in the United States on November 30, 2013
Verified Purchase
A very readable, extremely well organized survey that brings us close to life in and around castles of the 10-12th centuries, mainly in England and France.

Conveying passionate interest of the authors, the book covers the seasons, times of day, conditions of life, work, pleasures and meals of each social class: including daily activities, economics, as well as military techniques of attack and defense of castles.

The book also provides a clear explanation of English and French feudalism and its evolution.

This book is best read together with a historical survey of the period such as R.H.C. Davis's brilliant "History of Medieval Europe".

The current paperback edition of "Medieval Castle" however is ruined by poor quality production from HarperCollins. Printed on rough paper that will age quickly, the many excellent black and white photos are so badly reproduced that some are nearly indecipherable.

With today's technology there's no excuse for this shoddy production. Many low volume books at this price level have excellent photo reproduction.

Get an older used copy of Gies, if possible from another publisher, which might well have better and more lasting reproduction of this excellent book and its illustrations.
25 people found this helpful
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that guy
4.0 out of 5 stars Thorough and detailed
Reviewed in the United States on January 17, 2021
Verified Purchase
This is the second book in the series of "Life in a ..." by the authors that I have read. The book is certainly filled with valuable information that is overall well integrated with life outside of the castle as well. The highlights, for me, where the chapter on the castle as house, a day in the castle, the household and the castle at war (out of a total of 12 chapters). Collectively, these chapter generate a good understanding of the logistics and day to day living related to castle dwelling for a variety of the inhabitant, from the Lord and Lady to servants. The chapter addressing siege warfare does a good job at addressing the relevant logistics. The chapter on The Castle Year is an excellent companion to the author's Life in a Medieval Village and provides an excellent summary of the seasonal relationships between the villagers and the inhabitants of the castle. The book provides two glossaries of great use, one addressing terminology related to castles and one the feudal system. The chapters are interspersed with quotes from the period to emphasize the points and add some humor, while making a point (as in relation to human waste disposal systems). Who does not like a good poop joke!? A the end the book also has an overview of castles throughout the Christian Medieval world. It is superficial by necessity (there were many castles) but provides a brief at a glance summary of the variety of castles.

Overall, this book is a valuable resource for the scholar and interested amateur. If you are looking for a fun read above information gathering maybe seek some other source.

Some minor "dings": The chapter on The making of Knight is rather generic and by my reading did not do a great job at integrating the knight into life in the castle. It's a basic 101 chapter on medieval knights. Not bad in and of itself, but it seems to lack full integration to the main theme of the work. The publishers (not the authors) did a very poor job with the photographic reproductions for the paperback (which is what I own). There are many photographs of castles throughout, but they are printed with such high contrast as to appear more as attempts at modern art than useful visual data for historical purposes.

In conclusion, the books is an excellent resource for the reader interested in reading for information gathering purposes, but perhaps not for the reader who seeks amusement. The books in this series are historical works, not historical fiction intended to entertain. By providing a focused analysis of village, castle, city etc etc each book generates a rather comprehensive picture of that aspect of medieval life.
16 people found this helpful
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Ryan
3.0 out of 5 stars Good book, well written
Reviewed in the United States on October 12, 2014
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Good book, well written. Plenty of details. A little dry at some parts. Maybe too many details. 3 1/2 stars.
One person found this helpful
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M. Pagels
5.0 out of 5 stars Life also outside the castle
Reviewed in the United States on December 18, 2010
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I liked "Life in a Medieval Castle" very much. Not only does it give a detailed insight into everyday life and "management" of a castle, it also describes the politics in and around it. I very much appreciated the description of how the connections between various lords and the king play a big role in how the castles are built and run. Rather than being self-centered single units, there are intricate political networks between the lords and the manifestation of their power, their castles.
One person found this helpful
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Delle Clark
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful book
Reviewed in the United States on August 25, 2022
Verified Purchase
Great book and has opened my eyes to how people truly lived during these historical times.
2 people found this helpful
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Alice L. Moore
4.0 out of 5 stars 4 stars for the book 3 stars for the Kindle Edition
Reviewed in the United States on September 3, 2010
Verified Purchase
Let me start of by saying: I love my Kindle and I really like the book "Life in a Medieval Castle". That being said these two are not made for each other.

In the book there are photographs and drawings interspersed with text. This is easy to follow in hard copy. On the Kindle, the text is interrupted by sometimes one or more illustrations with captions. As a result this reader lost the train of thought from the written text.

The book itself is easy to read and understand, even if you are not a Medieval scholar. You can appreciate the engineering genius that helped the castle evolve. Many people may not realize that William the Conqueror had a relatively easy time consolidating his hold over England, The Saxon Lords only had 5 castles before 1066. There were hundreds by the 1100s.

What I liked most about the narrative is that this was not a romanticized or patronizing account of Medieval times. The descriptions were easy and interesting enough for the lay reader. I found myself always wanting to read a little further. If the next chapter was about, say ,the castle gardener, I still wanted to go on based on the interest that was built before it.

It definitely is not a novel. It could, though, provide source material for an aspiring Historical or Fantasy novelist,

To sum up buy the hard copy book and not the digital edition. The book is only .20 cents more. Sorry Kindle not this time.
54 people found this helpful
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Margie Adkins
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book
Reviewed in the United States on April 16, 2020
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Life in a Medieval Castle is meticulously researched and incredibly detailed. Yet is easily understood by non historian. Ihighly recommend it to anyone with an interest in the Middle Ages.
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Top reviews from other countries

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boatfan
5.0 out of 5 stars Informative and easy to follow
Reviewed in Canada on May 9, 2024
Verified Purchase
I've been delving a bit into history, from the neolithic to the medieval, and have a fascination with castles to boot. This was a great introduction that will help me both with fiction writing and building relatively authentic Lego castles. This book goes into the depth level that I was interested in; it gave more detail than most internet sites about castles, and included a lot of quotes from period sources. At the same time, it didn't read like a academic journal article, nor did it try to capture everything about every castle. It covered the physical castle layout and also the life that went on there; altogether there was enough info that one could figure out areas of interest where one can do additional research by consulting other sources. The approach of using a specific castle as a reference and then expanding from that worked for me. I learned a few things I didn't know before, for example that the medieval cooks were usually men and that the kitchens were in a separate building from the main hall.
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Lionel Mochamps
5.0 out of 5 stars Todo bien.
Reviewed in Spain on December 16, 2018
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Todo bien, muy rapido.
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john robertson
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book from 1970's
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 18, 2018
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Excellent book beautifully written in the 1970's but still very informative. Photos not well produced.
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Katie
3.0 out of 5 stars Good, novel-type book
Reviewed in Germany on March 6, 2021
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No illustrations and pretty technical essay-type writing. But still an enjoyable read, with many facts and accurate descriptions that those curious about Medieval Times will appreciate.
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Maggie May
4.0 out of 5 stars Very Scholarly
Reviewed in Canada on September 16, 2019
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I thought this book would be more of a fictionalized depiction of a family, with their servants, knights, children etc. living in a castle in medieval times. It has a bit of that but mostly talking about the castle itself and what each part of it was used for. Rather dry but I would imagine it being very helpful to anyone writing about life in a castle.
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