CASTLES is a book Dan Jones was born to write: his childhood infatuation, followed by profound scholarship and garnished with superbly engaging prose has produced a wonderful history of the strongholds that still excite our imagination and command our respect

Andrew Roberts

A rollicking gallop through five millennia of humankind's efforts to wall societies in ... The presiding virtue of CASTLES is ... infectious wonder, disciplined by formidable learning

The Times

Glorious. Jones has taken one of the things we take for granted in the background of so many periods, and used it to produce what feels like a completely fresh approach to history. Made me want to go on a grand tour

Jonn Elledge

Epic in scope and lavish in detail, Jones tells the story of human history through the most dramatic ruins we have

Paul Cooper

As fluent and coherent in its description of many different buildings as it is meticulous in its consideration of what these edifices actually are, or were meant to be ... A day trip to a historic setting like Fort Sumter, in Charleston, South Carolina, site of the first armed engagement of the American Civil War, or a hike up to the remains of Cadbury Castle in Somerset encapsulate the fun Jones had researching CASTLES

Literary Review

Clever, conversational and compelling

Evening Standard