A Guidebook to ‘Piers Plowman’

This comprehensive guide leads students chronologically through the entire text of PPl and is designed to be read alongside it. Assuming no previous knowledge, readers are introduced to characters, plot, and argument in way that enables them to enjoy and analyse the text for themselves. The book clarifies and explores L’s thinking; contextualizes the religious, political, and social issues he raises; details the genres and sources the poet uses; employs up-to-date bibliographical knowledge to offer alternative critical interpretations and suggest ways of relating these to the poet’s key concerns; explains L’s historical, theological, and psychological assumptions in helpful text boxes; and features illustrations and suggestions for further reading.

Rev. by:

• Thomas Goodmann, YLS, 22 (2008), 237–40;
• shorter notice, no author listed, Medium Ævum, 76 (2007), 371.