Medieval LEGO review

We interviewed the author Greyson Beights the other day and well worth a read. Today I take a look at his book titled Medieval LEGO. This book is published by No Starch Press and is out on the 30th September and can be pre-ordered from Amazon UK and today going to take a book like no other. It is one that might not appeal to everyone but in true No Starch style it is still a quality publication. Read on to see why it is differs from other LEGO books.

Official description
Castles and kings, battles and treaties, famine and plague, intrigue and invasion!

Medieval LEGO takes you through real English history in the middle ages with a unique twist, with every event illustrated by a tiny little LEGO scene. With contributions by medievalists and scholars, this book brings medieval history to life in a fun, kid-friendly way.

Inside, you’ll learn about events like the Battle of Hastings, the chartering of Oxford University, and the signing of the Magna Carta. You’ll witness the Great Fire of London, the Black Death, and the Great Famine, and you’ll read about famous historical figures like Robin Hood, Richard the Lionheart, Geoffrey Chaucer, and William the Conqueror.

Grab your broadsword and turn the page to join the adventure.
The review

The book is a small hardback book the same shape as a CD book just a bitter bigger in dimensions. The book typeface is much larger then I have seen in a No Starch Press publication and I think it kind shows you this isn’t really aimed at the older spectrum of LEGO fans and after reviewing it, I’m still not sure if it has a clear idea of who it is aimed for.

The book takes us through Medieval history. now for a Englishman I love our history and it was one of my best subjects at school, however does that same appeal expand outside of Europe, personally I’m not too sure about that. The first part covers the years 1028 to 1214 starting with William the Conqueror. I have traced my family tree all the way back to the Normans as my ancestors came across William. Anyway part two covbers 1215-1345 and part three 1346-1485 we finish the book with a list of builders who contributed to the book.

The book has excellent photography throughtout with some of the builders creating some excellent Castle inspired MOCs that have been used to create scenes based on the chapter Greyson is writing about. Each chapter Greyson covers the main points of each part in history and uses LEGO to help set the scene. Now if this was adapted for a school text book I think more junior school children who enjoy history a lot more. My daughter has found it really inspiring and she keeps coming to me telling me about what she has read about.

So that is fab but from an adult point of view, I found the text a little on the light side and Greyson just seemed to skim each subject and left me kinda wanting more depth to what he was writing about. For younger readers there is just enough to get them interested without them losing interest yet for adults you get to end and want more.

I ended up a couple of times picking up other text books as want to know a little more, if this is Greyson’s intention then he has got it spot on. I think this book is aimed at younger readers and I think it will get more of them interested in history, my concern though is how do you market a book like this?

Is it a LEGO book talking about history or is it a history book using LEGO as representations? I think the later, yet still think it is something certain LEGO fans will enjoy. So if you are in to your LEGO Castle etc then this might just be the book for you, if you have a youngster learning history then again this is the book for you. If you want to win a copy of this book then stay tuned as we have 5 of these books to giveaway!

You can pre-order your copy today from Amazon UK