Summer of Blood: The Peasants Revolt of 1381

(Paperback)

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Revolt and upheaval in medieval Britain by a brilliant new narrative historian, Summer of Blood breaks new ground in its portrayal of the personalities and politics of the bloody days of June 1381.
The Peasants Revolt of 1381 is one of the most dramatic and bloody events in English history. Starting with village riots in the Essex countryside, chaos rapidly spread across much of the south-east of England, as tens of thousands of ordinary men and women marched in fury to London, torching houses, slaughtering their social superiors and terrifying the life out of those who got in their way. The burning down of Savoy Palace, home to the most powerful magnate in the realm, marked one of the Revolts most violent episodes.

The Peasants Revolt has remained an underexplored period of history. In revisiting the bloody events of 1381, Dan Jones has brought back to glorious life the squalor, drama and complex hierarchies of a society that until now seemed almost too distant to imagine. His examination of village life and the failings of government from the perspective of the Revolts key players is both intellectually stimulating and compulsively readable.

Vivid, atmospheric and beautifully written, this is historical writing of the highest quality.

Reviews

Combines zest and flair with an acute historical intelligence. Bold. Surprising. Unputdownable. David Starkey

Jones has certainly livened up the Middle AgesCombining scholarly zest with novelistic flair he serves his account hot, brave and reeking with gore for a wide readership. The Times

Dan Jones seeks to uncover the idealism and brutality of this fateful summerA fresh look. John Guy, Sunday Times

Dan Jones relates his tale with relish and zestIf anyone is looking for a racy account of England's summer of blood this is it. TLS

Jones's book is welcomeAt his besthis prose rises to the occasion provided by the dramatic showdown between Richard and the rebels at Smithfield. Spectator

A pacy narrative. Daily Telegraph

Short, clear history of a long, hot summer. Scotsman

Author Bio

Dan Jones is a historian, broadcaster and award-winning journalist. His books, including The Plantagenets, Magna Carta, The Templars and The Colour of Time (with Marina Amaral), have sold more than one million copies worldwide. He has written and hosted dozens of TV shows including the acclaimed Netflix/Channel 5 series, Secrets of Great British Castles. His writing has appeared in newspapers and magazines including the London Evening Standard, the Sunday Times, the Daily Telegraph, the Wall Street Journal, Smithsonian, GQ and The Spectator.