The Bayeux Tapestry

I just finished reading 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

The tapestry, a 230 foot embroidery on linen, is often viewed as a series of images.  Its survival from the late 11th c until now is nearly miraculous.  It is the history  of the Norman Conquest and of the beginnings of feudalism in the West. It is remarkable for what it tells us habout the history, sociology, art, and craftsmanship of Norman, Anglo-Saxon, Viking, and Byzantine civilizations of the time.  It is the only close contemporary document of the Battle of Hastings, an event Marking a profound change in the world, the beginning of the medieval world.

My rating for this book: Outstanding and memorable.
http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=9hnbmml8fOY&hd=1



There is an excellent review at http://www.writersreps.com/A-Needle-in-the-Right-Hand-of-God
Scrollable image with text and translation at http://bayeux-tapestry.org.uk/
in French at http://www.infrancia.org/loira-normandia/Anjou-Maine-Normandie/tapisserie-de-bayeux-entiere.html but it is harder to scroll and resolution is lower than uk version.