Tower : an epic history of the Tower of London

Castle, royal palace, prison, torture chamber, execution site, zoo, mint, treasure house, armoury, record office, observatory and the most visited tourist attraction in the country, the Tower of London has been all these things and more. No building in Britain has been more intimately involved in our island's story than this mighty, brooding stronghold in the very heart of the capital, a place which has stood at the epicentre of dramatic, bloody and frequently cruel events for almost a thousand years. Now historian Nigel Jones sets this dramatic story firmly in the context of national - and international - events. In a monumental history drawn from primary sources he pictures the Tower in its many changing moods and a bewildering array of functions. Here, for the first time, is a thematic portrayal of the Tower of London as more than an ancient structure. The fortress is a living symbol of the nation itself in all its kaleidoscopic colour and rich diversity. Incorporating a dazzling panoply of political and social detail, "Tower" puts one of Britain's most important buildings firmly at the heart of our national story. Castle, Royal Palace, Prison, Torture Chamber, Execution Site, Zoo, Mint, Treasure House, Armoury, Record Office, Observatory And The Most Visited Tourist Attraction In The Country, The Tower Of London Has Been All These Things And More. Part One (1. Beginnings ; 2. The Menagerie And The Mint ; 3. The Captives And The Kings ; 4. Plague And Peasants ; 5. Uneasy Heads ; 6. Roses Are Blood Red ; 7. The Princes, The Protector, And The Prtenders -- 8. The King's Great Matter ; 9. The Henrician Terror ; 10. Tudor Children ; 11. Fallen Favourites ; 12. Papists, Plots And Poison) -- Part Two (13. Great Escapes ; 14. Restoration Romps ; 15. Civil Wars And Uncivil Peace ; 16. Iron Dukes And Liunatic Lords ; 17. The Tower At War) -- Epilogie: The Tower's Ghosts. Nigel Jones. Map On Lining Papers. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 432-443) And Index. No Building Has Been More Intimately Involved In The Story Of Britain Than The Tower Of London - A Mighty, Brooding Stronghold In The Very Heart Of The Capital. Castle, Prison, Torture Chamber, Execution Site, Zoo, Mint, Treasure House, Armoury, Observatory: The Tower Has Been All These Things And More, Standing At The Epicentre Of Dramatic, Bloody And Frequently Cruel Events For Almost A Thousand Years. Setting This Dramatic Story Firmly In The Context Of National - And International - Events, Nigel Jones's Superb History Portrays The Tower Of London Not Just As An Ancient Structure But As A Living Symbol Of The Nation. No building has been more intimately involved in the story of Britain than the Tower of London - a mighty, brooding stronghold in the very heart of the capital. This title presents the story of the Tower of London as an ancient structure and as a living symbol of the nation.