15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
a unique and fascinating book, 18 Oct 2000
This review is from: Bayeux Tapestry Embroiderers' Story (Paperback)
This is an original look at the Bayeux tapestry, concentrating primarily not on accurate images of the work nor on the historical background, both of which are well-documented, but on the makers of the work, the sources of their inspiration and how they worked. To have this famous work analysed by an embroiderer, with the addition of her characterful clear illustrations, really helps us to understand why the makers translated this cataclysmic event into embroidery in the way they did. The addition of a possible version of the missing end piece, reconstructed by Jan Messent, is an intriguing bonus. The contents of the book I found really fascinating. My only serious problem with it was the calligraphy- beautiful and a work of art in itself, but too small for older readers, and even more difficult when the contrast was reduced by use of coloured pages. The author recognises potential problems by giving the text again in normal type at the back. Apart from the difficulty of matching pictures and text back and forth, this act of kindness is rather lost because it's placed right at the end of the book, after the booklist and acknowledgments, and not as far as I can see, signposted earlier in the book or in the contents! I'm still giving 5 stars- it may have involved a bit of effort to read, but it was worth it!
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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
I found the book disappointing., 6 Sep 2000
By A Customer
This review is from: Bayeux Tapestry Embroiderers' Story (Paperback)
While there is certainly a lot of information contained in the book, the poorly selected typeface makes reading a chore. And the images consist of sketches reinterpretting the tapestry, rather than photographs of the actual work. All in all, if I had seen the book in a shop rather than ordering it by post, I doubt I would have bought it. It's a pity really. I have several other books by the author and had expected more from her on this topic.
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