A NEEDLE IN THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD The Norman Conquest of 1066 and the Meaning of the Bayeux Tapestry

The 230-foot-long Bayeux Tapestry depicts the Battle of Hastings, in which William the Conqueror defeated King Harold II of England in 1066, thereby changing the course of Western civilization. Howard Bloch's treatise on the events surrounding the battle brims with luscious details in memorable prose. Narrator Stephen Hoye brings his remarkable multilingual skills to service, switching between English, German, French, and Latin. When he recites famous verses of the period, he adapts his style to just the right timbre and meter to portray the beauty of the lyrics. There's so much information in a package so well performed that it's worth hearing more than once. J.A.H. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 07/ JAN 08]