Knights

"Knights" tells the story of Europe's finest warriors and strongholds during the Middle Ages. It tells the story of medieval knights, describing their training, weapons, armour, their battles and their leisure pursuits, such as hunting and falconry. The book describes everyday life in the castle household, as well as the function of rooms such as the Great Hall, solar, garderobe (toilet) and, of course, the dungeons. It explains how sieges were conducted, including the workings of the formidable siege engines used to breach the walls of an enemy's castle. It also describes the two great periods of knightly warfare in the Middle Age - the Crusades and the Hundred Years War between England and France - and tells the story of the legendary King Arthur, head of the Knights of the Round Table. It includes: gatefold flap featuring the knight's armour and weapons; "Legend of King Arthur" booklet; castle artwork - reveal showing the interior of the building; a booklet of siege equipment, including a trebuchet, ballista and mangonel; die-cut flap in the shape of a shield showing readers how to create their own coat of arms; and, a pull-out timeline strip in the shape of sword revealing the dates of the Crusades.

Simon Adams was born in Bristol and studied at London and Bristol universities. He then worked as an editor of children's reference books before becoming a full-time writer 18 years ago. Since then, he has written and contributed to more than 70 books on subjects as varied as American history, the sinking of the Titanic, the two world wars and the history of jazz. He has written for many major children's publishers including Dorling Kindersley and Kingfisher. His work for Watts includes titles in the Citizen Guides, Flashpoints, World War One and World War Two series as well as, most recently, Countries in the News.

He lives in London, listens to lots of jazz, and is an avid reader of both fiction and non-fiction books.

What would it have been like to live in the Middle Ages, don a suit of shining armor, and defend castle and king? "Knights "tells the story of this elite class of warriors, the training they endured from a very young age, the heavy weaponry they used, the intricacy of their chivalric code, the jousts and tournaments they competed in, and the castles that formed the center of their world. Children will learn about, and get to see in fascinating images, all the complicated components that made up their armor, the colorful heraldic symbols that signified their loyalties, and the evolution of castle architecture, from simple motte-and-bailey structures to formidable fortified stone buildings with moats, towers, and defensive battlements. There's even information on leisure pursuits, such as hunting and falconry. In addition, the book describes the two significant periods of knightly warfare in the Middle Ages--the Crusades and the Hundred Years' War between England and France--as well as the history surrounding that greatest of legendary knights, King Arthur, head of the Knights of the Round Table.Along with spectacular art and maps, the special interactive items include booklets, sliders, and fold-out pages.

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