Product Description

A combination of verse from Simon Armitage and prose from Jeff Young lends a voice to the chain of events depicted on the famous Bayeux Tapestry. This production chronicles the history surrounding the Battle of Hastings in 1066 and the ascension of Duke William of Normandy to the English throne.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1211394 in Books
• Published on: 2001-02-05
• Released on: 2001-02-05
• Format: Audiobook
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 2
• Binding: Audio Cassette

Amazon.co.uk Review
The audio book dramatisation The Bayeux Tapestry is a contrivance to put us on location with the hoi polloi during events in 1064, leading up to the 1066 Battle of Hastings. Drawn from images on the embroidered masterpiece--and history as we know it--conjecture mingles with reality through developments which finish in bloody massacre.

Confrontation emanated from the accession of Harold, Duke of Wessex to the English throne, despite accord with Edward the Confessor's dying wish that William Duke of Normandy should be his heir. Seeking retribution, ("All offers of help were not enough for the onslaught he had in mind"), William sailed to England and headed his troops towards Hastings, where battle commenced and eventually concluded with Harold's death by an arrow shot to the eye. In implied war correspondent style, the inapt and irksome voice of Kirsty Wark peppers this cross hatch of self-conscious poetry and overblown prose. As the royal dukes ponder their lot, assorted commoners of the day discourse on fear, heroism and grief, and determine "History is the powerful frightening the weak," declaring "God can't give a toss." A colloquialism surely more 21st than 11th century? (Running time 2hrs 15 mins) --Lyn Took