A review by jaironside
England, Arise: The People, the King and the Great Revolt of 1381 by Juliet Barker

5.0

I love Juliet Barker's work. Not only has she produced the finest biography of the Brontes, but her historical non fiction is always coherent, well ordered, intelligently argued and supported with facts. She never allows herself to be swayed by the received wisdom as regards the historical understanding of an event either, but instead seeks the most plausible answers backed up with meticulous research. Her account in England, Arise! of the Great Revolt of 1381 (colloquially known as the peasant's revolt) is no exception. Relying as it does on chronicles and tax records, it could have been a very dry read in less skilled hands. Instead we're given a lively account that forces us to question what we previously understood. This truly is excellent. I read this as research for a book I'm writing and it's a valuable resource. One I will reread before I'm done!