Monday, February 14, 2011

12. A Needle in the Right Hand of God

The Norman Conquest of 1066 and the Making and Meaning of the Bayeux Tapestry
By:  R. Howard Bloch
Rated 4 Stars
From Library

I enjoyed this author's writing style.  It's very readable.  I learned quite a few things that surprised me.  For one it is a lot larger than I had imagined and for another it has some rather earthy images on it.  The most amazing thing about it is  that it has survived as well as it has for so long.  I would dearly love to see it in person.  Oh well, my next life maybe. :)

Publisher Summary 
The Bayeux Tapestry is the world’s most famous textile–an exquisite 230-foot-long embroidered panorama depicting the events surrounding the Norman Conquest of 1066. It is also one of history’s most mysterious and compelling works of art. This haunting stitched account of the battle that redrew the map of medieval Europe has inspired dreams of theft, waves of nationalism, visions of limitless power, and esthetic rapture. In his fascinating new book, Yale professor R. Howard Bloch reveals the history, the hidden meaning, the deep beauty, and the enduring allure of this astonishing piece of cloth.