The Bayeux Tapestry: the complete tapestry in colour Hardcover – 9 Feb. 2004

This was a present and the illustrations alone were amazing

Stunning! Great scholarship, interesting introduction, notes, erudite background explications, historical facts and (possible) fictions…everything we have wanted to know…the photos of the embroidery are enchanting…we are looking at them in detail, and finding new and wonderful designs…we especially like the ”trees”…what a great volume! Bought as background for a history class in grade five, but what a surprise! A favourite now, for the entire family…we need to go see the real thing….soon…and where, oh where are the missing bits?….

This is a superb book containing very large high resolution photos of the complete Bayeux "Tapestry" taken in natural light. This enables one to actually get a better view of the work than seeing it in Bayeux, where it is displayed in a low light behind glass to preserve it. Whether you are a history buff interested in a near contemporary depiction of a seminal event or an embroiderer this is is a stupendous reproduction where one can see every stitch and needle hole.There is also a good but rather outdated commentary - lots of interesting discoveries have been made about it since this was published - but I would recommend this for the size and quality of the reproductions.

I was pleased that the book I ordered was delivered on schedule, and without damage. The book itself was just as described with useful translations of the script within the tapestry.

The product is to enhance Anglo-Saxon and Norman studies. Having to go from the large picture section to the explanations near the back was a pain but I know the history/characters quite well.

I always wanted to see the Bayeux Tapestry but owing to ill health, that is no longer going to be possible. I was utterly delighted to receive this splendid volume displaying the full Tapestry which has been beautifully photographed in full colour and superbly laid out by Thames and Hudson Ltd. They produce some really fine books and this one is no exception. The Tapestry is an amazing piece of history. The book at the back, provides a lot of historic information, using small black and white mini photos corresponding to the large colour ones, so it is easy to read the info and flick back to the coloured section of linen, with it’s marvellous needlework and appreciate the information provided.

This wonderful large format hardback book reproduces the complete tapestry in full colour across a sequence of whole double page spreads unencumbered by notes and text, which is the closest you could get to seeing the real thing. This is followed by a translation of all the Latin inscriptions and a very informative commentary of the whole tapestry section by section. Three further chapters deal with The Story Told in the Tapestry; Style, Art and Form; and Buildings, Dress and Objects.

Having seen the tapestry in person I was pleased to purchase this book which documents the story better than the guide book I purchased.