Reveals details about the lives of medieval knights with the use of artwork from such artists as Jean Fouquet, Pieter Bruegel the Younger, and Paolo Uccello.

Introduces the high adventure of medieval England through the letters of a knight's squire who participates in an exciting tournament before witnessing the preparations and battle engagements of a castle under siege.

"Young readers can discover the medieval world - from the rules of jousting to castle construction techniques - with this comprehensive visual encyclopedia. Full of chivalrous facts, informative illustrations, and photographs of important artifacts, this is a definitive guide to everything you ever needed to know about how people lived in the Middle Ages"--

Working from plans of an actual 14th century European castle, Stephen Biesty has sliced the building into various cross-sections, each one teeming with life and detail.

"Castles may conjure up a romantic fairy tale world; however, in real life, during the Middle Ages, castles were fortresses, providing shelter and protection for the lord as well as for the peasants who lived on his land. For an army, a lord depended on young soldiers in armor called knights who spent years at the castle learning the skills of warfare"--

An illustrated exploration of a wide array of castles and fortifications throughout the world, from Norman mottes to Maori forts, including how and why they were built and their importance in history.