The Bayeux Tapestry

I saw the Bayeux Tapestry – in the pretty little town of Bayeux – thirty five years ago. One of my friends was teaching at the university in nearby Caen, and the tapestry was one of the sights we took in when I visited. As a recent English Language graduate, my head was still full of Anglo-Saxon and Middle English and the impact of the Norman Conquest on the development of the language. So it was a fascinating visit for me. But, truth be told, I haven’t called it to mind often in the years since.

Of course, that’s changed recently with the temporary relocation of the Tapestry to England as its Norman home undergoes renovations. Even if I could get hold of a ticket, I don’t think I’d make the journey from Edinburgh to London to see it at the British Museum. But I have been following the story. And thanks to Nosy Crow I’ve also been revisiting the story of the Tapestry itself.

To mark its temporary move across the Channel, Nosy Crow has published, in conjunction with the British Museum, a selection of titles about it for children of all ages. First up is an alphabet board book, illustrated using details from the embroidery. It’s tough but smooth to hold with rounded corners and thick pages. My Bayeux ABC is ideal for those wanting to focus on some of the details of the Tapestry as well as for small children.

In a traditional picture book format and size comes The History of the Bayeux Tapestry written by Libby Walden with illustrations by Nina Chakrabarti.

!t covers the background to the Tapestry as well as the actual history it depicts and the legacy it has left. As one would expect from Nosy Crow, the production values are high and the book as a whole is engaging and informative.

In the same format there’s also a colouring book which could be enjoyed by readers of any age. Alongside the pictures there’s some basic information about the Tapestry so the book could stand alone, although I think it would be best paired with the other book. Livier Latyk’s style is sympathetic without trying to be a copy of the original style.

And finally there’s a graphic novel, a re-imagining of the period of history covered by the Bayeux Tapestry. Martin Howard and Javi de Castro have collaborated to give us an enjoyable account of the events. It’s funny and quirky and probably pretty accurate. Let’s face it, we don’t actually know what happened one thousand years ago!