Castle: the siege chronicles

by Derek Farmer, illustrated by Mark Bergin
Book House, 2007

Knights and castles have boundless appeal for both the adventurously and romantically inclined. Here is a book which cannot fail to please from the moment the reader sets eyes on it: a padded cover made to look like an old, heavily decorated leather-bound journal; richly marbled endpapers; busy drawings full of intricate detail of medieval castle life; miniature “diary” pages in old style script; fold-outs and scrolls with fascinating snippets of information. Throughout all this runs the narrative thread of the true story of Baron Roger de Lacy and his 12th century castle Chateau-Gaillard, whose imposing ruins still stand in Normandy, France. This book will be enjoyed immensely by readers aged 8 and up.

Reviewed by Pamela