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The Story of the Bayeux Tapestry

Unravelling the Norman Conquest
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( 108 ratings, 20 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Story of the Bayeux Tapestry by Michael Lewis and David Musgrove delves into the historical and artistic significance of the famous medieval embroidery. The authors explore the complex narrative woven into the tapestry, which depicts the events leading up to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. This book provides insights into the cultural context, craftsmanship, and enduring mystery surrounding this masterpiece of historical storytelling.
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Format: Hardback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

If you're fascinated by historical artefacts and enjoy delving into the stories behind iconic pieces, this book provides a captivating exploration of a renowned medieval tapestry. It combines rigorous research with engaging storytelling to bring to life the intricate details, the craftsmanship, and the historical significance that have captivated people for centuries.

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The definitive guide to the Bayeux Tapestry and its legacy, exploring the rich narrative behind its stitches and the turbulent times in which it was created.

The definitive guide to the Bayeux Tapestry and its legacy, exploring the rich narrative behind its stitches and the turbulent times in which it was created

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Political intrigue and treachery, heroism and brutal violence, victory and defeat – all this is depicted in the Bayeux Tapestry, an epic account of one of the pivotal episodes in English history embroidered on a strip of linen. Famously, it shows the stricken Anglo-Saxon king Harold dying on the battlefield of Hastings in 1066 amid a shower of arrows, as axes clash, spears fly and fallen warriors are trampled beneath charging hooves.

However, there is much more to this remarkable historical and artistic treasure, which tells its tale with an intensity and immediacy that speak to our modern world, almost 1,000 years after its creation. Many mysteries and questions still surround this unique embroidery and not all is as it might appear at first glance. Who made it, when, why, where and what for? David Musgrove and Michael Lewis skilfully lead us through the full story of the Tapestry and the history it relates, providing illuminating insight into a world of fascinating details that might otherwise be overlooked or their significance missed.

They set the events in the context of the machinations on either side of the English Channel in the years leading up to the Norman Conquest and tease out what the Tapestry tells us of the deeds of kings as well as aspects of everyday life in medieval Europe.

A complete and accessible up-to-date account, illustrated throughout in colour with new photography, this is the definitive guide to the Bayeux Tapestry and its legacy, exploring the rich narrative behind its stitches and the turbulent times in which it was created.

With 145 illustrations in colour.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The book, The Story of the Bayeux Tapestry by Michael Lewis and David Musgrove, is praised for highlighting the tapestry's dual roles as a historical and artistic masterpiece. It utilises the latest research to explore the intricate story of 1066, offering fresh insights and explanations to historical enigmas. Described as a thorough guide that invites readers to reconsider each scene, it is also noted for its illustrations and detailed research, offering a unique glimpse into the eleventh century.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780500252420

Publisher: Thames & Hudson Ltd

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 01 April 2021

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Thames & Hudson Ltd

Illustration: 145 Illustrations, color

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 153.0mm

Height: 234.0mm

Weight: 800g

Pages: 352

About the Author

David Musgrove is Content Director for BBC History Magazine and BBC Science Focus, and author of the bestselling 100 Places That Made Britain. Michael Lewis is Head of Portable Antiquities & Treasure at the British Museum. An expert on the Bayeux Tapestry, he is the author of The Real World of the Bayeux Tapestry. He is a member of the Bayeux Tapestry scientific committee that is advising Bayeux Museum on the reinterpretation and redisplay of the embroidery.

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