This isn't your typical history book. Jean Froissart was a journalist before the job even existed. In this eleventh volume, covering 1382 to 1385, he picks up right after the major battles of the Hundred Years' War have quieted down. But quiet doesn't mean peaceful.

The Story

The book opens in a world trying to catch its breath. England and France are technically at war, but large-scale clashes have paused. Instead, the conflict goes local and gets ugly. We see the explosive Peasants' Revolt in England, where common people rise up against a system that grinds them down. Froissart reports on the chaos in the streets, the demands for justice, and the brutal crackdown that follows.

Across the Channel, France is dealing with its own internal fires. Cities rebel against the crown, and nobles jockey for power and influence in the power vacuum. The story then shifts to the complex political chess game in the Low Countries and the Iberian Peninsula, where alliances are made and broken over dinner. It's a narrative driven by city riots, tense diplomatic meetings, and the constant, low-grade anxiety of a cold war that could turn hot at any moment.

Why You Should Read It

You should read this because Froissart makes history human. He's less interested in grand strategy and more in the characters. You get the fury of a rebel leader, the panic of a wealthy merchant seeing a mob at his door, and the weariness of a king trying to hold his realm together. His writing removes the glass case from the medieval world. These aren't statues or names in a textbook; they're people making desperate, brave, and sometimes terrible decisions. The central theme isn't glory—it's survival and the struggle for power in every corner of society. It shows that the 'Middle Ages' weren't a monolith; they were a wildly diverse and turbulent time.

Final Verdict

Perfect for history buffs who are tired of just reading about kings and battles, and for anyone who loves deep-dive narratives about real-life political drama. It's also great for writers or world-builders looking for inspiration on how societies actually function (and dysfunction) under pressure. Be warned: it's a primary source, so it can feel dense at points, but the payoff is an unparalleled, street-level view of a world in flux. This is history with the mud still on its boots.