Castles of New York

Barry, a well-known photographer and documenter, takes the reader through the "castles" of New York, mostly massive structures built by the very rich at the turn of the last century. Some are still residences; several are now kept to rent out for weddings and meetings. Others were designed to be schools or, in the case of Vassar's Thompson Castle, a library. The styles range from solid late Norman dominance through Tudor palace to whimsical creations in stone that would not be out of place in Middle Earth. The narrative is the personal story of Barry's journeys, along with a history of the place and the people who built it. The photographs are beautiful and may well inspire others to make a pilgrimage to see the castles. Barry mentions but makes no pronouncement on reports that, along with turrets and crenellations, many of these castles resemble their European counterparts in that they come complete with ghosts. Barry gives a very enjoyable tour. Annotation 穢2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)