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Book on Bayeaux Tapestry

I was browsing in B&N yesterday to relieve post-dentist traumatic stress syndrome (and wait to be able to drive further than the 1/2 mnile from the dentist to B&N) and came upon this new book:

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 (an academic at Yale who's written some interesting books)

Anyhow - I took a look, and now I'm lusting for it but wouldn't spend the $20 (with my B&N discount). Has some very nice colorplates - actually the entire tapestry, IIRC, is shown in sections. Looks to be an interesting read combining the what we're supposed to learn, what the tale is it's telling, and how it was made. Also, some interesting photos of relevant historical digs, discoveries. Just thought I'd mention it - and see if anyone has read it. I'm pretty sure I'll get it somehow.

Of course, well there, I also found a great reference book bargain. Big reprint of the 19th century book by Owen Jones on Ornamentation, full of color plates, reduced to 19.98, then 50% off, then my additional 20% off because it's hardcover - so the book ended up costing about $8. It's called "Decorative Ornament" - and was first published in 1856 as "the Grammar of Ornnament" by Day & Sons, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London. The plates were originally done as chromolythographs, and this repro uses gold, silver inks to truly replicate the original.

The book was one of the first references on ornamentation for architects, artists, and has over 2500 illustrations. Amazingly well documented - drawings of all kinds of motifs, broken down by region of origin. So, I had to had it - as it's full of things to build from in designing borders, motifs, etc. Just sharing a bit more - plus - what a bargain. It seems like a nice edition - given the antique ones are over $200 a page for the plates. Though, Dover does have one of it's CDs with the motifs from the Grammar of Ornament.

Thoguht I'd share - I'm really curious about the Bayeux Tapestry book.

ellice

Reply to
ellice
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Another great Bayeux book for the stitcher is "The Bayeux Tapestry Embroiderers' Story" by Jan Messent, published in 1999 by Madeira Threads UK. The author is an embroiderer and artist who writes about "the women involved, their identity, materials, methods, organization, working conditions and venues".

Felice

Reply to
Felice Friese

Thanks for the reference. I've seen another book on it, but not that one. It's just so interesting from both the embroidery and socio-political standpoints.

ellice

Reply to
ellice

One of the best books on the subject of the Bayeux Tapestry is the following.........

The Bayeux Tapestry Author: David M. Wilson Pub: Thames & Hudson....original copyright date 1985.....republished:

2004 (my book) Price: $40.00US

This is one of the most detailed publications about the Bayeux Tapestry I've ever seen (I've got two or three other publications on this subject)........book contains large full color (including bl & wh) pics of the embroidery in great detail with equally detailed commentary of the social, political, religious, etc., aspects of the period this unique piece of embroidery was produced including comparisons to other art styles, similar forms of work produced in the same time period by the people involved in the battles along with related & surrounding countries.

This book probably covers more information on this monumental narrative embroidery than most people might want to know but for the ones that love scholarly, detailed commentaries about who, what, when, where, why & so on, this book literally covers it all!

Reply to
woolydream

Ellice: I love the B.T. I had my Masters in Ed. when I came across it the first time. What a thrill! As I told my mother about this neat book, she stared at me and asked if I had looked closely at one section. It turns out a far-distant relation is in the work. Our family fought for "King Billy's Boys" and William the Conqueror. That was the beginning of a whole new hobby the entire family now enjoys. We have found relatives who fought on both sides in the American Revolution, both sides in the recent unpleasantness (we fought in the Orphan Brigade made up of first through fifth Kentucky Infantry with Confederate feelings), for Robert the Bruce, against the Picts, Celts, English, Romans in Scotland and Ireland. Proud members of Sons of Liberty, Sons of the Revolution, and Military Order of the Stars and Bars.

Reply to
Brian

I found that book recently at my local library and devoured it in one sitting. It's on my "someday" list for sure. The insert has a "New Yorker" magazine cover from 1944 showing the invasion at Normandy in the style of the tapestry.

There is a museum in either England or France with an embrodery depicting the D-Day invasion. I read the article in a magazine about ten years ago. I can't remember which one, but it may have been "Piecework."

Reply to
Rosemar

Reply to
Cheryl Isaak

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