Richard, the affordable book about the Bayeux tapestry which you mentioned in Sojourner's thread and to which I treated myself looks really promising! I've only read a bit yet but it is really informative with good illustrations (even if many of them are black and white - but then, for a grand total of £4.03....)
I the quotations that the author starts the book with, from people as diverse as William Morris and Heinrich Himmler (yes, really) all saying what the Bayeux Tapestry means to them.
My absolute favourite (in an aghast sort of way) is the quote from Charles Dickens, who apparently though it was "the work of very feeble amateurs"
Thanks for the recommendation, Mable. I'll see if I can get it next month.
It'll have to wait that long because my finances are still reeling from finding my wife's 'Grail' fountain pen for her 50th birthday in January. She collects Sheaffer Targa fountain pens and there is a rather rare one called the 'Force 10' made by the French Jeweller Fred Joaillier between 1992 and 1996. An example can be seen here: https://penhero.com/PenGallery/Sheaffer ... orce10.htm . I found a mint one with stickers (therefore unused, as the stickers have to be taken off to use the pen) and a matching ball point that I could just afford and thought it'd be nice for her 50th birthday.
That's quite a present, Richard! Your wife is a very lucky lady, and I don't even mean because of the value of the present, but much more for the fact that you have taken such trouble to find something that would really please her.
As for the book, it's worth keeping a look on the second-hand ones on Amazon (and possible eBay) to snap it up at a good price - as I said I got mine for a little over £4 incl. postage, but at the moment the cheapest one is £7.
What a thoughtful gift for your wife Richard, made all the more special for the effort in finding a "mint" condition.
The Bayeux book sounds very intriguing.
I wonder when the Tapestry itself will be touring the UK, I remember it was announced it would be on loan whilst it's present home is undergoing restoration, but no dates or locations have been announced yet as far as I am aware, that would definitely be worth seeing.
On the Amazon site alone there are at least 2 dozen books about the tapestry, some better than others. The better ones have large colour photos of the entire piece. There are also a couple of dozen theories as to the origin and meaning of the tapestry, again some better/more believable than others
WIP: Van Gogh "Fishing Boats", Another Bayeux scene
