The Bayeux Tapestry

The Life Story of a Masterpiece

The vivid scenes on the Bayeux Tapestry depict the events leading up to the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Hicks shows us this world and the miracle of the tapestry's making: the stitches, dyes and strange details in the margins.

One of Europe’s greatest treasures, The Bayeux Tapestry depicts the events leading up to the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Discover the secrets behind how it was created.

Who commissioned the tapestry? Was it Bishop Odo, William the Conqueror’s ruthless half-brother? Or Harold Godwinson's dynamic sister Edith, juggling for a place in the new court?
Hicks invites us into this world and the miracle of the tapestry's creation: the stitches, dyes and strange details in the margins.

For centuries the tapestry lay ignored in Bayeux cathedral until its 'discovery' in the eighteenth century. It became a symbol of power as well as art: townsfolk saved it during the French Revolution; Napoleon displayed it to promote his own conquest; the Nazis strove to make it their own; and its influence endures today.

This marvellous book, packed with thrilling stories, shows how we remake history in every age and how a great work of art has a life of its own. The perfect companion to read before viewing the tapestry on its first UK exhibition.

‘A perceptive and sure-footed guide’ Guardian

‘Hicks enchantment with the tapestry is compelling’ Daily Telegraph

‘A beguiling study’ Financial Times

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