Tower

The fortress is a living symbol of the nation itself in all its kaleidoscopic colour and rich diversity. Incorporating a panoply of political and social detail, 'Tower' puts one of Britain's most important buildings firmly at the heart of our national story.

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.