"The Great Rising is a re-interpretation of the revolt, the rebels and their often colourful leaders, and is the first new history for nearly one hundred years. Alastair Dunn charts the causes of the Great Rising, and examines how the burgeoning economic expectations of the generation succeeding the Black Death were frustrated by the landlords' determined defense of serfdom, and the growing burden imposed upon the people by the crown, culminating in the hated Poll Taxes. He asks whether the Great Rising had a coherent set of aims linking its participants in different parts of England, follows the dramatic story of the rebels in London, and highlights the largely forgotten, but equally exciting story of rebellion in other parts of England."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved

This volume eschews general narrative history and consists of articles, most of which were presented to a conference organized in 1981 by the Past and Present Society.

A stunningly good book on a revolt which came within a few minutes of changing our history utterly --totally absorbing.

This account of the "peasant revolt" of 1381 demonstrates that the rebellion was not an uncontrolled, inarticulate explosion of peasant resentment, but an informed and tactical claim to literacy and rule. It focuses on six brief texts by the rebels themselves.

When Adam Delved and Eve Span is an introductory history of the inspirational English peasant rising of 1381. The book recounts, against the backdrop of 14th century England - including the daily struggle of peasants for food and justice and the devastation wrought by the Black Death - the events of the Peasants' Revolt, both in London and in the regions, conveying their breathtaking speed and bringing rebel leaders, such as Wat Tyler and John Ball, to life.