1066 : The Hidden History of the Bayeux Tapestry

A brilliant new reading of the Bayeux Tapestry that radically alters our understanding of the events of 1066 and reveals the astonishing story of the survival of early medieval Europe’s greatest treasure. For the first time in nearly 1000 years, the Bayeux Tapestry returns to English soil in a historic loan. The famous tapestry recounts the tale of the Norman Conquest of England – but whose story is it really? The Battle of Hastings, the death of King Harold, the triumph of Duke William: these are the moments that forged England, and they are all here, vivid and extraordinary, in this astonishing work of art. But buried beneath the surface is something remarkable. Invisible to the Normans, the voices of the defeated Anglo-Saxons and a new French ally were ingeniously woven into the threads, and their opinions hidden in plain sight. At the heart of this thrilling tale lies an enigmatic French count, a cast of ruthless knights, ambitious warrior bishops and powerful women. A tale of pageantry, courage and breathtaking deceit is unravelled in this fascinating investigation. 'Bridgeford marshals the battalions of his argument with all the analytical force, lucidity and panache of a counsel from the golden age of advocacy' SUNDAY TIMES