Synopses & Reviews
Nonfiction. British History. Mark O'Brien's WHEN ADAM DELVED AND EVE SPAN is a new introductory history of the inspirational English peasant rising of 1381. Against the backdrop of fourteenth-century England—including the daily struggle of peasants for food and justice, and the devastation wrought by the Black Death—the book recounts the events of the Peasants' Revolt, both in London and in the regions. The book conveys the breathtaking speed of the revolt and brings rebel leaders such as Wat Tyler and John Ball to life. O'Brien combines a well-grounded historical setting with an account of the events that deliberately stresses the excitement of the rising.
Synopsis
This introduction to the 1381 Peasants' Revolt in England provides an accessible sketch of 14th-century life in England, and chronicles the era's class composition, political makeup, and the extensive impact of the Black Death on peasant life. The circumstances that led to the uprising, the taking of London, the murder of Wat Tyler, and other key moments in the revolt are described. Also included are reflections on the immediate and long-term impact of the revolt as well as a discussion about how the memory of the Peasants' Revolt has been debated within each wave of social struggle and revolution in England.
About the Author
Mark O'Brien is Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Lifelong Learning, University of Liverpool. A lifelong socialist and trade union activist, his research interests include social and labor history, and labour internationalism. He is the author of WHEN ADAM DELVED AND EVE SPAN (New Clarion Press, 2004), a history of the Peasants' Revolt, and PERISH THE PRIVILEGED ORDERS: A SOCIALIST HISTORY OF THE CHARTIST MOVEMENT(New Clarion Press, 2009).