As we approach the bicentennary of Nelson's decisive victory at the Battle of Trafalgar (October 2005), it is timely that a history of the world's most imposing, central and celebrated naval monument should be published. Although Trafalgar Square, with its column and famous lions and fountains, provides an iconic image of London today, it was not until 1830 that the Square acquired its name, and later still, in 1843 - almost 40 years after his death - that Nelson's Column was erected. What was there before? Why was this particular site chosen to commemorate Nelson? The author, Jean Hood, traces the evolution of the Square, through the design and planning of the monument, Parliamentary squabbles and indecision, engineering debacle and overspend, through the rise of the buildings that surround it and the statues that decorate it, to the recent modernisation and pedestrianisation that was completed in 2003, which realises the original plan of access from the National Gallery. Illustrated with a wealth of maps and plans, engravings, artworks and photographs, in colour and in black and white, Jean's lively and fascinating text incorporates biographies of the architects, designers and prominent figures who created the Square that we recognise today, and explores themes such as national celebration, political protest and artistic controversy that have become as intrinsic to the character of the Square as the architecture itself. Thorough in research and description, rich in anecdote and visually appealing, this book is a beautiful souvenir to the millions of visitors who come to the Square every year as well as essential reading for anyone interested in the history and development of London.

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Castles are the visible and physical remains of the landed aristocracy which dominated the Middle Ages in Britain. Examples such as Dover, Goodrich and Kenilworth still excite the imagination as much as the landscape in which they are set. All castles were not the same, however, and Tom McNeill presents the evidence for their variety and development, using examples from England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland. Topics covered include: how the defences adapted to changes in seige war who lived in castles why they were sited in particular locations who built them and why how much they cost Castles were built to perform a series of functions, of which defence in war was only one. A key requirement was that they should be suitable living and working headquarters for a lord. They also had an important economic role, as well as being at the centre of community life and an important part of aristocratic display. Attention is often focused on the central core of the building but this book extends the scope to give a fuller picture of castles and all the people who lived in them. With many maps, plans, reconstructions and photographs, this is the complete companion to castles - whether you wish to study the subject before or after a visit, or whether you are simply an armchair enthusiast.