The Tower of London is one of the most visited historic monuments in the world, conjuring up images of towering battlements, arms and armour, ravens, the Crown Jewels, Yeoman Warders, imprisonment, torture and death. The history of the Tower and its buildings is a vast, fascinating and complex subject, intertwined with the history of England, its government, its kings and queens, its people and its institutions. The myths that surround the Tower"s history reflect this and are of interest in themselves, but the truth - as so often - is stranger than fiction. The foundation of the Tower of London took place as a direct result of one of the most remarkable and important events in European history: the conquest by the Normans of the rich and powerful kingdom of England. Securing the country"s most important city was an immediate priority, and within days of his coronation William the Conqueror had ordered fortifications to be built to control its "vast and fickle population". The...