Blending historical facts and an absorbing account concentrating on the practical aspects of creating such a mammoth piece of art, this survey examines the mysteries behind a centuries-old artifact, the Bayeux Tapestry.

Through vividly detailed illustrations impeccably true to the piece’s intricately worked characters and elements, this volume offers a thoughtful envisioning of the stories of the women involved in embroidering the piece—their identities, materials, methods, organization, working conditions, and venues.

Incorporating a sketchbook feel that evokes a sense of a work in process, the chronicle pieces together an extensively researched and colorful narrative that helps place the famous embroidery in a plausible context. The author’s reconstruction of the final eight feet that are missing from the tapestry will be of particular interest to embroiderers.