Product Description
Enter a world of romance and adventure, of hardship and battle, and fight your way in between a hail of arrows to discover the world inside a castle under siege. Meet the humble laundry maid, the elegant lady, the blacksmith sweating in his forge, and the young squire learning to joust and fight. The projects are all presented in specially commissioned step-by-step photography, making them simple to follow either at home or in the classroom. They are exciting and fun as well as educational, and the practical activity brings history to life as well as placing it in context. For all children aged 8-12 years. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

In Search of the Lost Story
This is the story of another deluded megalomaniac from the era of rampant American industrialization who went insane and bankrupt because he was building another great castle as a shrine to his fat ego.

George Boldt was a ruthless exploiter and profiteer but the story is sold as "a castle built for love" and a "love tragedy".The story has all been cleaned up because the park wants to make money on naive tourists who flock to the island (its attendance was at approximately 1,950,000 visitors per year).

After the death of his wife Louise, workers stopped. The prevailing story is that George halted construction because he was so grief stricken over the loss of his precious wife, in actuality George Boldt went bankrupt because his wife was in charge of the building and he picked up a new lover after and his wife's death.

Excellent item!
So much information was provided and the pictures were delightful.The entire book really satisfied my thirst for additional information about Boldt Castle.
A great read from start to finish!

An American Dream with an American Tragedy
George Boldt, a German immigrant, became wealthy in the late 1800s and early 1900s. He bought Hart Island on the St. Lawerance River (as well as other places), changed the name to Heart Island, and had some wonderful buildings constructed. The largest, the Boldt Castle, was never completed. The story goes that, on the day George Boldt's wife died, workers laid down their tools and left the island castle incomplete.

There are rumors as to why the Castle sat in near ruin after being abandoned. Did Boldt's wife, Louise, run off with another man? Or did she really die? If so, why the vagueness around her death? This story mixes what some might call the American Dream with an American Tragedy.

Malo explores George Boldt's history in hopes of finding answers to why the Boldt's abandoned the Castle.

Another take on the Boldts
Boldt Castle, on Heart Island, might be one of the most romantic places in America. The public has been spoon fed the 'romantic' legend of the Boldts for far too many years.Professor Malo did his research.He spent time among the people who remember the Boldts.This book may not disprove the romantic legend, but it certainly puts a new slant on the story.Like Professor Malo, I much preferred the Island and the legend before the Bridge Authority got hold of the property and began to restore it - with, as Professor Malo points out, historical inaccuracy.

If you've every been to Boldt Castle, read this book.It will open your eyes, and remind you not to believe *everything* you hear.

Boldt Castle: In Search of the Lost Story
Having visted Boldt castle numrous times over the past 30 years, I was all ways disappointed that there was never any new information about the Boldt's and there lives. The story that was presented never changed from the "canned" love story. After reading Boldt Castle: In Search of the Lost Story I was still disappointed as ther really wasn't that much new material. The book raised questions about the standard "canned " story but never really disproved it. In the end the story of Boldt castle and George and Louise is a tragic love story. ... Read more

Product Description
This new Pocket Wales series of books features a collection of the best landscapes, coasts, castles and mountain views in a handy pocket size. Each image has an extended caption which gives the reader an insight and background to the picture. Individually or as a set, these books are great little souvenirs of Wales. ... Read more

Product Description
Wales, known as the land of castles, has more castles per square mile of its breathtaking landscape than anywhere else in Europe. From the Normal keep at Cardiff to the Welsh stronghold at Criccieth and Edward I's famous fortifications at Caernarfon and Conwy, the castles of Wales tell the fascinating story of Wales's turbulent past. ... Read more

Product Description
A truly impressive new reference to the historic buildings of the United Kingdom--the castles, fortresses, royal palaces, stateky homes, fortified manors and the great country houses ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Be careful
I think this book plus Kings and Queens equals Lorenz Royal Britain. Be careful with Lorenz books, many of the 500+ page ones are just combinations of two or more other Lorenz books.

A great reference
Want to take a holiday but it's not the right time or you can't afford it yet? Getting desperate? Then this is the book for you, and you don't even need to leave your home! Take an historical tour throughout Britain, learn the history and appreciate the architectural brilliance of some of the most beautiful palaces, castles and estates in the world, and even better, do it from the comfort of your couch with a good cup of coffee. :)

I bought this book several months ago in a sale, and I am glad that I did. My original intention for purchasing was background on the palaces and estates in Britain, both for research and pleasure, and it has definately surpassed my expectations. Not only does this book give a detailed account of the known and unknown palaces, castles and estates of Britain that are still standing, but it also details the ruins that one may not neccessarily know exist.

I found the photos to be exceptional and beautiful, and the information on each of the palaces to be intriguing, most of which I probably would not have known unless I participated in a guided tour of the palace etc. or done a whole lot of research. The book is fairly thick, and quite heavy, as can be expected, and is definately recommended for fans of historical Britain, especially those with an interest in architecture and history, and even those that just like having a head full of useless information. :)

4 stars, a gorgeous gift for those of all ages!

A Great Reference
This book is a great reference and I found myself searching it while reading about English history.I love English historical fiction and found this book was ideal in helping me visualize actual locations set in novels about English monarchs like Henry VIII and Elizabeth I.The pictures are gorgeous and the illustrations, maps and descriptions are thorough.

love architecture
This is a gorgeous book.The pictures are beautiful and the text is very informative.I like the way the book is divided into historical periods. ... Read more

Product Description
This scarce antiquarian book is a selection from Kessinger Publishing's Legacy Reprint Series. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment to protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature. Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone! ... Read more

Product Description
This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

Product Description
Even though Neuschwanstein Castle was only built in the 19th century, it looks like a story-book image of a medieval palace.It was the model for Walt Disney's fantasy castle and was used in the famous children's film "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang". ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Great Book For Children
This is a book for children but adults will find it interesting. It gives basic information about Ludwig. The cut aways that show how the castle is laid out are great. When you visit it is difficult to tell where you are inside related to the outside. This puts the building in perspective.

DO NOT BUY!
I thought this was going to be an informative book on this wonderful castle, but it has been dimished to a child's fairytale that tells you absolutely nothing about Ludwing or Schloss Neuschwanstein. Has a few pictures, not that great. It's like twenty pages, and even a child would call it lame. DO NOT BUY! ... Read more

Product Description
A celebration of Ireland's historical houses and castles. With text and colour photographs, imposing strongholds and examples of Palladian architecture are captured, as well as Regency structures and crenellated masterpieces, aerial views of gardens and details of interiors. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Great book...
I enjoyed this book, I've had it (and earlier print) for over 10 years now and I continually take a look for reference or just to enjoy browsing the photos! The histories accompanying the photos are comprehensive but concise, and very well written.

The inclusion of floor plans would have gotten the fifth star - I think floor plans tell a lot about a building, especially one that's grown over centuries as these buildings invariably have.

[...]

Glorious Castles
Irelands landscapce of beautiful rolling hills and flowing rivers plays inperfectly with the unimaginable Manor houses that it hosts. The 308pictures in this book show many of the most historic and beautiful homes inIreland. If the history of architecture intrests you, this is a must buybook. ... Read more

Product Description
The area along the Weser was very prosperous economically between the Reformation and the Thirty Years War, so there was a great deal of building activity. Renaissance castles, aristocratic estates, town halls and civic architecture here were little affected by he effects of war or modernization. They have survived in very large numbers, and the quality is very high. The present volume offers a representative selection of the region's castles and palaces. Architecture and court culture are placed in a European context that goes beyond older approaches based on the stylistic history and shows that forms demonstrating princely prestige have qualities in common well outside the region. ... Read more

Product Description
Medieval castles were not just showcases for the royal and powerful, they were also the centerpieces of many people's daily lives. A travel guide as well as a historical text, this volume looks at castles not just as ruined buildings, but as part of the cultural and scenic landscape. The 88 photographs illustrate the different architectural concepts and castle features discussed in the text. The book includes glossaries of terminology, an appendix listing all the castles mentioned and their locations, notes, bibliography and index. ... Read more

Product Description
This is a lavishly illustrated tour through fifty magnificent villas and palaces built by the Italian aristocracy. From peaceful country retreats in Tuscany and the Veneto and impressive urban residences in Rome and Siena to fortresslike castles and grand villas in Trieste and Sicily, this book showcases the works of some of the most famous artists and architects of all time. Palladio, Raphael, and Veronese, among others, each contributed to create the most divine and otherworldly atmospheres ever to grace Italian art and architecture. In these pages, one is permitted behind the often imposing gates and facades to get a glimpse of a lifestyle that seems almost unimaginable in the twenty-first century.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A book you will read over and over.
The book itself is a work of art.I actually have two copies of this book, the original first edition Hardcover in Italian, and the Hardcover reprint edition from 2004.Italia Meravigliosa, I bought with the idea that any text in its original language is better than anything translated.That would probably be true if my skills in Italian came anywhere close to what I would like to think they are.
The book is a beautiful journey through Italy to places that you would never get to see, even if you lived in Italy.The book is laid out well with exquisite pictures on every page.A special bonus is the fact that the text accompanying the pictures is presented outside the picture itself so that the beauty of the picture is unmarred by text superimposed over it.
The book visits 57 places, with historical background, things to look for in the pictures, and interesting little facts in the narration at the beginning of each new place.The pictures that follow are all relevant to the text presented, with enough information to enjoy and understand the pictures, without a lot of repetitive information.A lot of thought went into everything presented in the book.It is a refreshing change from similar books that present the same information over and over disguised in different versions of the same thing.There is a nice map that helps pinpoint the locations of all the places for you, so you never have to admit that without it, you would have no idea where these places were.
Since I have both the original edition plus the reprint addition, I can provide the differences in the two.While they are both hardcover editions, containing the same amount of pages and the same information on the pages, there are some surprising differences.The original version is ½" thicker than the reprint edition and almost a pound heavier.The original version seems to be printed on better quality paper, and has a more solid binding. This would not be noticeable except for the fact that I own both copies and one is noticeably larger than the other. My advice: Take this book, get a glass of wine, wrap yourself in a blanket by the fireplace and you will betransported on journey through Italy.No matter how many times I have read this book and looked at the pictures, I always seem to see something in the pictures that I never saw before.It will definitely be a great addition to your book collection.

A beautiful book to enhance any library!
Italian Splendor is simply splendid, and much more than just a coffee table show-off. It is a beautifully produced book, dominated (as it should be) by the wonderful photography of Roberto Schezen.

The descriptions by art expert Ralph Toledano are succinct and respectful and contain some interesting anecdotes. Best of all, they are short enough to just whet the appetite for the photographs.

This book takes you into the fabulous homes of the rich and aristocratic families of Italy and Sicily. From the exquisitely simple La Rocca Pisana, Lonigo to the amazingly rich Palazzo Doria Pamphilij in Rome, each house is different and interesting. Some are astonishing, like the Palazzo, Panza di Biumo, which has a peculiar mixture of ancient frescoes and abstract modern art that works in an odd sort of way. Many are private homes not open to the public, and therefore not able to be viewed in any other way except through this book. Unless you happen to be royalty yourself, of course!

The book was researched over 18 months by Jack Basehart, who must be incredibly lucky to have had the opportunity to get to know all of these marvellous houses. Thanks for sharing them with us, Jack....

...And how about turning this book into a documentary series?

PS. If you can get hold of it, I think the hardback is well worth the extra money. This is a book you're going to want to keep. ... Read more

Product Description
The medieval castles of Wales are an imposing group of monuments. Although there are examples from the Norman period, the vast majority of the surviving castles date from the thirteenth century, a dramatic and turbulent period when Wales was nearly united under native rule before succumbing to Edward I's conquest: Caernarfon, Conway, Harlech and Beaumaris are justly famous, but equally fine examples can be found elsewhere, including Pembroke, Kidwelly and Chepstow in south Wales; native Welsh castles feature prominently.This book provides a brief account and complete gazetteer of every surviving castle in Wales, from the impressive earthworks raised by the Norman invaders to the castle-palaces of the later middle ages, and including the remarkable town fortifications of Wales; it is arranged by county for convenience of reference, and offers full Ordnance Survey details. Lavishly illustrated. ... Read more

Product Description
This last decade has seen a revolution in our understanding of the castle. Previous scholars have viewed it as essentially a military structure. Castle scholars now paint a more complex picture, emphasizing the castleÆs symbolic projection of power, its position in the wider landscape and even its aesthetic role. This wide-ranging book makes this re-evaluation available to a new generation of castle enthusiasts. Focusing on the rich heritage of castle archaeology in England and Wales, Robert Liddiard offers a fresh and holistic perspective on these enigmatic medieval buildings. He examines not just the architecture but its wider social and landscape context. As well as offering new insights into familiar themes such as the Norman Conquest and siege warfare, he also covers in detail more original areas of study: the designed, ornamental landscapes that have been found at castle sites; the depiction of castles in literature; and the symbolic values that found expression in castle architecture. His aim is to understand how people experienced castles in the Middle Ages, and therefore to explain why they were such potent icons of lordship. Richly illustrated in color and black and white, this book will make the reader see afresh the great stone keeps that still dominate the English and Welsh countryside - often more than seven hundred years after they were built. ... Read more

Product Description
Architecture has become a powerful tool in the fashion business. Perfectly poised and detailed shopping environments help to launch and build the corporate identities of the most conspicuous and prevalent fashion houses worldwide. As clothes designers diverify into all sorts of product ranges from homeware to sports gear, and expand in the the virtual world of e-commerce, the architectural image of built shops is becoming all the more apparent and all-pervasive.
Featuring interviews with high-profile architects Rem Koolhaas, Jan Kaplicky of Future Systems and David Chipperfield, and covering, among others, Comme des Garcons, Dolce & Gabbana, Issey Miyake, Prada and Yves St Laurent stores, this issue takes a close look at the relationship between fashion and architecture. It examines issues such as what role architecture plays in the formulation of fashion houses' identities, whether the line between fashion and architecture has become blurred, and if virtual shopping environments are intensifying the need to experience architectural space in the high street. Probing and far-reaching in its editorial content, Fashion and Architecture is the most comprehensive and high-quality visual record of current fashion retail. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

****PRIME REAL ESTATE****
Beautiful photography, detailed descriptions and very readable text.

If you plan on going to Ireland or have already been, this is a rare look at some of the less accessible tourist sites.The book also gives a more in-depth look of the historical workings of a particular site than any tourist guide. ... Read more