---
product_id: 25201951
title: "Life in a Medieval Castle: The Definitive Social History and Reference on Daily Life in the Middle Ages (Medieval Life)"
price: "€ 42.84"
currency: EUR
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 13
url: https://www.desertcart.pt/products/25201951-life-in-a-medieval-castle-the-definitive-social-history-reference
store_origin: PT
region: Portugal
---

# Life in a Medieval Castle: The Definitive Social History and Reference on Daily Life in the Middle Ages (Medieval Life)

**Price:** € 42.84
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- **What is this?** Life in a Medieval Castle: The Definitive Social History and Reference on Daily Life in the Middle Ages (Medieval Life)
- **How much does it cost?** € 42.84 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.pt](https://www.desertcart.pt/products/25201951-life-in-a-medieval-castle-the-definitive-social-history-reference)

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## Description

"Some particular books I found useful for A Game of Thrones and its sequels deserve mention... Life in a Medieval Castle and Life in a Medieval City , both by Joseph and Frances Gies." —George R.R. Martin, author of the series A Song of Ice and Fire Medieval history comes alive in Joseph and Frances Gies's Life in a Medieval Castle , used as a research resource by George R. R. Martin in creating the world of Game of Thrones . Newly reissued for the first time in decades, Life in a Medieval Castle is the bestselling classic that has introduced countless readers to the wonders of the Middle Ages. Focusing on a castle called Chepstow on the border between England and Wales, acclaimed Medievalists Joseph and Frances Gies offer an exquisite portrait of what day-to-day life was actually like during the era, and of the key role the castle played. The Gieses write eloquently about the many people whose lives revolved around the castle, from the lord and lady to the commoners of the surrounding village. We discover what lords and serfs alike would have worn, eaten, and done for leisure; the songs sung; and the codes of sexual conduct that maintained order. We learn of the essential role of honor in medieval culture, the initiation process undertaken by knights, and how castles attempted to keep the constant threats of outside violence at bay. Exhaustively researched and as engaging as any novel, Life in a Medieval Castle is the definitive text for anyone wishing to learn more about this fascinating era.

Review: First rate book, poorly produced by HarperCollins - A very readable, extremely well organized survey that brings us close to life in and around castles of the 10-12th centuries, mainly in England and France. Conveying passionate interest of the authors, the book covers the seasons, times of day, conditions of life, work, pleasures and meals of each social class: including daily activities, economics, as well as military techniques of attack and defense of castles. The book also provides a clear explanation of English and French feudalism and its evolution. This book is best read together with a historical survey of the period such as R.H.C. Davis's brilliant "History of Medieval Europe". The current paperback edition of "Medieval Castle" however is ruined by poor quality production from HarperCollins. Printed on rough paper that will age quickly, the many excellent black and white photos are so badly reproduced that some are nearly indecipherable. With today's technology there's no excuse for this shoddy production. Many low volume books at this price level have excellent photo reproduction. Get an older used copy of Gies, if possible from another publisher, which might well have better and more lasting reproduction of this excellent book and its illustrations.
Review: Thorough and detailed - This is the second book in the series of "Life in a ..." by the authors that I have read. The book is certainly filled with valuable information that is overall well integrated with life outside of the castle as well. The highlights, for me, where the chapter on the castle as house, a day in the castle, the household and the castle at war (out of a total of 12 chapters). Collectively, these chapter generate a good understanding of the logistics and day to day living related to castle dwelling for a variety of the inhabitant, from the Lord and Lady to servants. The chapter addressing siege warfare does a good job at addressing the relevant logistics. The chapter on The Castle Year is an excellent companion to the author's Life in a Medieval Village and provides an excellent summary of the seasonal relationships between the villagers and the inhabitants of the castle. The book provides two glossaries of great use, one addressing terminology related to castles and one the feudal system. The chapters are interspersed with quotes from the period to emphasize the points and add some humor, while making a point (as in relation to human waste disposal systems). Who does not like a good poop joke!? A the end the book also has an overview of castles throughout the Christian Medieval world. It is superficial by necessity (there were many castles) but provides a brief at a glance summary of the variety of castles. Overall, this book is a valuable resource for the scholar and interested amateur. If you are looking for a fun read above information gathering maybe seek some other source. Some minor "dings": The chapter on The making of Knight is rather generic and by my reading did not do a great job at integrating the knight into life in the castle. It's a basic 101 chapter on medieval knights. Not bad in and of itself, but it seems to lack full integration to the main theme of the work. The publishers (not the authors) did a very poor job with the photographic reproductions for the paperback (which is what I own). There are many photographs of castles throughout, but they are printed with such high contrast as to appear more as attempts at modern art than useful visual data for historical purposes. In conclusion, the books is an excellent resource for the reader interested in reading for information gathering purposes, but perhaps not for the reader who seeks amusement. The books in this series are historical works, not historical fiction intended to entertain. By providing a focused analysis of village, castle, city etc etc each book generates a rather comprehensive picture of that aspect of medieval life.

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| Best Sellers Rank | #174,124 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #162 in Conventional Weapons & Warfare History (Books) #162 in History Encyclopedias #186 in Historical Study Reference (Books) |
| Customer Reviews | 4.2 out of 5 stars 620 Reviews |

## Images

![Life in a Medieval Castle: The Definitive Social History and Reference on Daily Life in the Middle Ages (Medieval Life) - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81tzoWmuw3L.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ First rate book, poorly produced by HarperCollins
*by R***G on November 30, 2013*

A very readable, extremely well organized survey that brings us close to life in and around castles of the 10-12th centuries, mainly in England and France. Conveying passionate interest of the authors, the book covers the seasons, times of day, conditions of life, work, pleasures and meals of each social class: including daily activities, economics, as well as military techniques of attack and defense of castles. The book also provides a clear explanation of English and French feudalism and its evolution. This book is best read together with a historical survey of the period such as R.H.C. Davis's brilliant "History of Medieval Europe". The current paperback edition of "Medieval Castle" however is ruined by poor quality production from HarperCollins. Printed on rough paper that will age quickly, the many excellent black and white photos are so badly reproduced that some are nearly indecipherable. With today's technology there's no excuse for this shoddy production. Many low volume books at this price level have excellent photo reproduction. Get an older used copy of Gies, if possible from another publisher, which might well have better and more lasting reproduction of this excellent book and its illustrations.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Thorough and detailed
*by T***Y on January 17, 2021*

This is the second book in the series of "Life in a ..." by the authors that I have read. The book is certainly filled with valuable information that is overall well integrated with life outside of the castle as well. The highlights, for me, where the chapter on the castle as house, a day in the castle, the household and the castle at war (out of a total of 12 chapters). Collectively, these chapter generate a good understanding of the logistics and day to day living related to castle dwelling for a variety of the inhabitant, from the Lord and Lady to servants. The chapter addressing siege warfare does a good job at addressing the relevant logistics. The chapter on The Castle Year is an excellent companion to the author's Life in a Medieval Village and provides an excellent summary of the seasonal relationships between the villagers and the inhabitants of the castle. The book provides two glossaries of great use, one addressing terminology related to castles and one the feudal system. The chapters are interspersed with quotes from the period to emphasize the points and add some humor, while making a point (as in relation to human waste disposal systems). Who does not like a good poop joke!? A the end the book also has an overview of castles throughout the Christian Medieval world. It is superficial by necessity (there were many castles) but provides a brief at a glance summary of the variety of castles. Overall, this book is a valuable resource for the scholar and interested amateur. If you are looking for a fun read above information gathering maybe seek some other source. Some minor "dings": The chapter on The making of Knight is rather generic and by my reading did not do a great job at integrating the knight into life in the castle. It's a basic 101 chapter on medieval knights. Not bad in and of itself, but it seems to lack full integration to the main theme of the work. The publishers (not the authors) did a very poor job with the photographic reproductions for the paperback (which is what I own). There are many photographs of castles throughout, but they are printed with such high contrast as to appear more as attempts at modern art than useful visual data for historical purposes. In conclusion, the books is an excellent resource for the reader interested in reading for information gathering purposes, but perhaps not for the reader who seeks amusement. The books in this series are historical works, not historical fiction intended to entertain. By providing a focused analysis of village, castle, city etc etc each book generates a rather comprehensive picture of that aspect of medieval life.

### ⭐⭐⭐ A Great Resource
*by P***S on March 31, 2005*

Life in a Medieval Castle takes a broad look at all aspects of castle life and their role in the Western European social system between the 11th and 16th centuries. Most of the examples are English and Norman Castles. Overall I'd give this book 3.5 stars and recommend it to anyone interested in a easy general overview of castles and their structural and social evolution throughout the middle ages. For someone more interested in the military and siege aspects of castles this book may not contain as much info as you'd like. I'm keeping this one for my personal collection.

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*Store origin: PT*
*Last updated: 2026-09-20*