Castle (edition 1982)

by David Macaulay

Series: Macaulay Construction (5)

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3,206	48	4,157	(4.23)	31

nbmars's review

David Macauley has written a series of informative books about architectural wonders. Castle describes the construction of an imaginary castle in Wales, in order to illustrate the methods of the actual construction of actual castles built to aid in the conquest of Wales between 1277 and 1305. The imaginary town in which he locates his castle is also based on actual towns in that place and time. He writes: “This combination of castle and town in a military program displays both superior strategical skill and the farsightedness required for truly successful conquest.”

A glossary is included in the back of the book.

Evaluation: This book will more than satisfy both kids and adults curious about the amazing steps taken to create such enormous buildings without any modern equipment. Fine pen and ink drawings add to understanding the process. (

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nbmars | Oct 26, 2020 |

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This Caldecott Honor book is about a fictional castle that was built 1283-1288. Although the castle itself is fictional all of the information is factual. There is great detail in the story and the pictures are done in black and white drawings. This would be enjoyed by anyone that has an engineer type mind or enjoys history.

bklver | Jul 24, 2023 |

Shout out to the OG. 10/10 (

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FamiliesUnitedLL | Mar 25, 2023 |

Despite loving David Macaulay's PBS programs Castle and Cathedral since childhood, I had never read this book until now. The programs followed me through my education from elementary school to community college and I later bought them on DVD so I could continue watching them at home and share them with my children. His drawing style influenced my own, which I believe later influenced my daughter's. I had the opportunity to meet Macaulay after a lecture at Utah State University in October, 2014 and he was as smart, kind, and creative as I always thought he was. He not only signed our copy of Cathedral, but he also left an original drawing on the title page. I'll treasure it forever. (

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bibliothecarivs | Jan 8, 2023 |

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Mustygusher | Dec 19, 2022 |

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Mustygusher | Dec 19, 2022 |

Castle is an illustrated engineering feat for those who ask, "how did they build those castles, anyhow?" From the how to the why, author/illustrator David Macaulay delivers a blueprint of information that your children (and yourself) can spend hours investigating. This Caldecott Award-winning book details the design and construction of medieval castles using the tools people had access to at the time. Though the name of the castle is fictional, the contexts and engineering is directly from the British countryside. If you've ever marveled at how artists illustrate in perspective in primarily ink, David Macaulay's books will keep you entertained and educated for years.

RoseWeagant | Jul 18, 2022 |

Despite the fact the castle and surround community are imaginary, the construction of the castle itself, in 1286 Wales, is a realistic blueprint. A lot of detail went into explaining the process, complete with a layout of all the tools for a carpenter's trade as well as the weapons of war. . As an aside, I loved the little culprit sitting in the dungeon. Equally amusing was how they disposed of human waste. Yes, I have that kind of humor sometimes. I heard that Castle was also made into a documentary. (

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SeriousGrace | Jun 28, 2022 |

Hard to call this a kid's book or a picture book. The target audience would probably be at least 10 years old. I was a precocious reader and this didn't capture my attention until about then, though I did love looking at the pictures. (

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books-n-pickles | Dec 29, 2021 |

Same series as "City" and the same concept. Fantastic sketches. Great for kids and an adults coffee table. (

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Paul_S | Dec 23, 2020 |

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nbmars | Oct 26, 2020 |

This story is about a 13th century castle a barely there narrative with characters switching in and out to show the passage of time. The profound emphasis is on the materials and construction tools and techniques of the time and the historical approaches to solving engineering problems faces but he administratory, economic and security requirements of an English castle of the time. There is a military emphasis which can’t be ignored but seems to be well researched. If I have to be critical, it does seem somewhat dismissive of wood and plaster castles which would have existed contemporaneously. But the stone castles are more impressive and so the fictional castle from this book would probably be more appealing to a broader audience of readers. (

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jcook18 | May 28, 2019 |

Amazing book showing how a castle is built. Very detailed and realistic black asd white drawing show step by step the raising of the caste and tells all the jobs that entails. A favorite for any aged person interested in the midieval era.

jet6 | May 12, 2017 |

Beautiful, precise drawings accompany detailed, descriptive text to build a complete picture of the process of building a castle in the 13th century: planning, funding, workers, tools, materials, defense, and offense. There is a useful glossary in the back. (

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JennyArch | Jan 31, 2017 |

Macaulay uses detailed illustrations, floor plans, and cut-away pictures to describe the process of building a fictional castle within the historical context of medieval times.The reader learns of the different number and types of laborers hired, how cold temperatures halted the work, which was protected with layers of straw and dung before the workers returned to England for the winter. Macaulay even illustrates the way medieval toilets were built, supported, but protruding beyond the castle wall, connected to a “cesspit” at the base of the wall. A thorough slice of life in medieval times.

tina_w | Jul 17, 2016 |

I loved this book as a 7th grader. We were studying this time period and my father gave this book to me for Christmas 1977. I used it as part of my history report on castles and I still think the pen and ink drawings are more outstanding than any color books I have seen in comparison. (

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MarySchubert | Mar 2, 2016 |

This is David Macaulay's book about the architectural process of building an English fortress. He goes through the steps with all the details, tools, people and possibilities involved, drawing amazing pictures to help you better understand. He includes dates that follow a timeline of the construction of Lord Kevin Le Strange's fortress which was completed and even resisted destruction.

npetzold | Nov 6, 2015 |

The perfect book on how to build a castle. And the prose is clear. One of the books that educate the reader at the same time the child being read to is also educated. read at least twice. (

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DinadansFriend | Apr 23, 2014 |

3.5 stars. England is building a castle and surrounding town in Wales in the 13th century, and Macaulay explains and uses illustrations to show how the castles and towns were built. He tells a little story to go along with the explanation.

The illustrations are very, very good and do a fantastic job of pictorially showing what he is explaining in the text. It’s very interesting to learn about how these castles were built and why they were designed as they were. (

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LibraryCin | Feb 11, 2014 |

Very informational on the history, construction, and design of a castle in Medieval Times. A great source for children interested in this period of time or as a source in the classroom during a period study. Appropriate for children in grades 1-6. Highly recommended as a source of history and as a general information book. (

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kerry.wood | Apr 14, 2013 |

I thought it was okay. I'm not a huge architecture person, and I must admit I didn't read it with a lot of focus. The illustrations are awesome. (

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scote23 | Mar 30, 2013 |

Castle is the story of building a castle and town in late-13th-century England. While I thought Macaulay's Cathedral was excellent on architecture, I wanted more context, and here he includes both. There are fabulous drawings, in perspectives from bird’s-eye to worm’s-eye and everything in between. And there’s background about the purpose of a castle (i.e. military, and not just defensive [to “resist direct attack and withstand a siege”] but also offensive [strategic “placement along important supply and communication routes” e.g. in the conquest of Wales]) and the purpose of the accompanying town (to “provide a variety of previously unavailable social and economic opportunities” that would benefit both the English and eventually the Welsh and promote peace). Excellent! (

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DetailMuse | Jul 11, 2012 |

The nuts and bolts of how a Medieval town and its castle were built, told in dense text and fine line drawings. I remember spending hours with this book as a child, but never read the historical narrative until now. Caldecott honor, 1978.

scducharme | Feb 29, 2012 |

David Macaulay's Castle has been around since 1977, like an old castle it continues to have timeless appeal and will be a fixture in the reading landscape for generations. Castle architecture is a complex business and Macaulay chisels away with pen and ink drawings at some of the more interesting features, it's not as complex as Cathedral or Mill (my favorite), but accessible to young readers and interesting enough for adults. The fictional back-story restores important context that is often lost when looking at historical buildings: castles were built for a particular purpose, by a certain person, at a particular time -- having long outlived those times and people, they remain in our lives as permanent reminders of fleeting mortality.

--Review by Stephen Balbach, via CoolReading (c) 2010 cc-by-nd (

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Stbalbach | Dec 12, 2010 |

Castle tells the story of the construction of a defensive castle and town. Macaulay creates a fictional story surrounding the construction. This helps move the book from a technical article to an engaging story.
In addition to outlining the construction and subtleties of the design of military castles it provides perspective on everyday life in a remote medieval England.
The text is well done, but the illustrations steal the show. The ink drawings are very readable and fun to study.

jasongiles | Nov 19, 2010 |

The text in this book is interesting, but it is the detailed illustrations that hold my attention. For children interested in architecture or history or what life used to be like or drawing or...lots of other things, this book would be a good friend. (

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arielaver | Jun 6, 2010 |

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