Castle by David Macaulay
"Castle" by David Macaulay is an illustrated exploration of the construction and life surrounding a medieval castle set in the fictional town of Aberwyvern. Written and illustrated in Macaulay's signature style, the book combines detailed pen-and-ink drawings with a narrative that follows the journey of Lord Kevin and Master James as they establish the castle and town. The story is anchored in historical context, featuring the real-life figure of Edward I of England, known for expanding English influence in Wales and Scotland. Macaulay meticulously illustrates each stage of castle construction, from site selection to the addition of essential structures and the eventual growth of the surrounding town.
Through the characters, including lords, architects, and local workers, the book illustrates not only the architectural processes involved in building a medieval stronghold but also the social dynamics of the time. As the castle becomes a symbol of power and stability, the narrative highlights the interplay between the English and Welsh populations living in the region. The book has been well-received, recognized with honors such as the Caldecott Honor Book in 1977, and adapted for television, further enhancing its educational value. "Castle" serves as both a historical account and a creative prompt, inviting readers to imagine their own stories about life in a medieval setting.
Subject Terms
Castle by David Macaulay
First published: 1977; illustrated
Subjects: Jobs and work and war
Type of work: History
Time of work: 1283-1295
Recommended Ages: 10-18
Locale: Aberwyvern, an imaginary town in Wales, Great Britain
Principal Characters:
Kevin le Strange , the lord of AberwyvernLady Katherine , his wifeJames of Babbington , an architect and builderPrince Daffyd of Gwynedd , the leader of the Welsh rebels
Form and Content
Castle gives a step-by-step account of the construction of a medieval castle. Author and illustrator David Macaulay explains in the preface that Aberwyvern is an imaginary setting. The lord of Aberwyvern, his lady, his architect, and his enemy are imaginary characters. The only historical personage is Edward I of England (1239-1307). Aberwyvern is very similar, however, to real places in the northwest of Wales, especially Colwyn Bay. The castle and town at Aberwyvern are composites; their history and architecture are based on places that Macaulay visited and sketched.
King Edward was an aggressive ruler who tried to expand the influence of England in the British Isles. In Scotland, he fought against William Wallace (the “Braveheart” of modern cinema) and Robert Bruce. In Wales, he established settlements in strategic locations and rewarded his loyal followers by making them lords in the area. When King Edward rewards Kevin le Strange by making him lord of Aberwyvern, he recommends a master engineer, James of Babbington, as the architect for Lord Kevin’s castle.
The story begins as Lord Kevin and Master James sail to Aberwyvern with their workers, guards, and supplies. Macaulay’s architectural illustrations dominate the book; they are made with a drawing pen in black and white. They show the workers and the life of the castle at every stage of development. The story line explains the drawings.
Master James helps to select the final site, a limestone outcropping that overlooks the Wyvern River near the seacoast. Guarded by soldiers, he and his staff build their barracks where the castle will eventually stand. They then dig a deep trench where the town wall will go. When the town is fortified, they bring laborers from England: quarrymen to dig rocks and masons to lay them, carpenters to build shops and houses, and a blacksmith to make tools and fittings. Meanwhile, Lord Kevin begins to collect taxes from his new subjects.
Work on the castle can be measured by the winters, for construction must stop when the mortar begins to freeze. Sections of the castle’s outer wall go up before the first winter sets in. Several towers are erected before the second winter. The outer wall is finished, except for the gatehouses, before the third winter, and the inner wall is under way. The town wall is almost complete before the fourth winter. Welshmen come to work in the town: shoemakers, tailors, and others to service the people working on the castle. The gatehouses are complete before the fifth winter, and before the sixth winter the castle’s great hall is ready. Lady Katherine and her children arrive the next spring.
King Edward visits the castle in 1594, eleven years after Lord Kevin first came to Aberwyvern. The town is now thriving. Rebel forces are afoot, however, and Prince Daffyd of Gwynedd attacks the castle in 1595. The castle withstands attempts to bombard it and undermine its walls. Yet, the real success story is the town itself, which begins to grow beyond the town walls. When the English and the Welsh live together peacefully, there is no more need for a castle.
Critical Context
Castle was received enthusiastically. It was named Caldecott Honor Book in 1977 and was named an honor book by the Boston Globe in 1978. In was adapted for public television, with narration by Macaulay on location in Wales, and broadcast in October, 1983.
Castle followed the same format as Macaulay’s earlier guides to architectural history—Cathedral: The Story of Its Construction (1973), City: A Story of Roman Planning and Construction (1974), and Pyramid (1975). All four books combine simple story lines and intricate pen-and-ink drawings. They have a similar look and feel, partly because they had the same publisher, Houghton Mifflin, and the same editor, Walter Lorraine. Macaulay’s other books include Underground (1976), which takes readers into the infrastructure of a modern city; Unbuilding (1980), which shows how the Empire State Building might be demolished; and The Way Things Work (1988), a colorful and often humorous guide to inventions throughout the ages.
In interviews, Macaulay explains that he was trained in architectural design and, therefore, starts with what he knows. He often builds models of the structures that he draws in order to see how the light will fall on them. Yet he always wants to know how the structures were connected with the people who designed and built and used them. When he imagines what their lives would have been like, he comes up with stories. Castle makes it possible for readers to envision life working on or in a castle. It could help them design their own model castles or write their own stories about castle life. Above all, it shows how a building can have a life of its own. The castle might even be called the book’s main character.