The Castles of Henry VIII

Description

In the last years of his reign Henry VIII needed a radically modern system of defence to protect England and its new Church. Anticipating a foreign onslaught from Catholic Europe after his split from Rome, Henry energetically began construction of more than 20 stone forts to protect England's major ports and estuaries. Aided by excellent illustrations, Peter Harrington explores the departure from artillery-vulnerable medieval castle designs, to the low, sturdy stone fortresses inspired by European ideas. He explains the scientific care taken to select sites for these castles, and the transition from medieval to modern in this last surge of English castle construction.

Peter Harrington runs the photographic collection of the Anne S. K. Brown University Library in Providence, Rhode Island. His is a well-respected military writer and is author of a number of works. Brian Delf began his career working in a London art studio producing artwork for advertising and commercial publications. Since 1972, he has worked as a freelance illustrator on a variety of subjects including natural history, architecture and technical cutaways. His illlistrations have been published in over thirty countries. Brian lives and works in Oxfordshire.

"Perhaps because the extant remains and the written documentation for these castles are more extensive, this book does not emphasize archeology, instead concentrating on the narrative story. The book is so well writeen that the result is one of the most enjoyable books in this series. I unreservedly recommend this book to anyone." --Bolling Smith, The Coast Defense Journal (November 2007) "This book follows the standard organization used with most of the Fortress series, and that includes a list of these forts that can still be visited. The author, who did an earlier book in the series, also did a fine job on this one... Those interested in following how the castle evolved into the more post-medieval fort will certainly find this a book worth having." --Joe Kauffman, SITEO Newsletter (October 2007) "It is a superb book on the subject and one that I can recommend to you without reservation." --Scott Van Aken, modelingmadness.com (September 2007)