Will I love The Story of the Bayeux Tapestry?

Who knew that an entire book about a piece of embroidery could be so fascinating.

I stayed in a small hotel in Bayeux pre-pandemic and, on a whim, strolled over to the small museum that holds this 1000-year-old, massive, 200-foot-long tapestry telling the story of the Norman Conquest. I saw for myself the intricate embroidery, the artistic flair, the comic details, and the horror of war, spread out like one of today's graphic novels. When I heard about this book on CBC radio, I had to get myself a copy. I'm so glad I did.

It reads like a novel,… show more.

This book provides a fantastic, in-depth study of the Bayeux Tapestry—the most detailed of all the sources for the Battle of Hastings—the battle that ended the Anglo-Saxon age.

What makes the book stand out is its panel-by-panel description of the tapestry, providing insight into the characters and places that are depicted, as well as the little oddities that occur in the borders of the tapestry.

However, the authors don’t just want you to believe their interpretation. They are quick to identify alternate explanations for ambiguous scenes, and clearly state that while some academics may prefer one view over another, no… show more.