The Jacquerie; or, the Lady and the Page

Name: The Jacquerie; or, the Lady and the Page
Rating: 4 (1 reviews)

by G. P. R. James

First published 1841

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Set in France in 1358, The Jacquerie brings aristocratic households and ordinary communities into the violent social crisis created by the peasant uprising known as the Jacquerie. The revolt erupts during the wider breakdown caused by the Hundred Years’ War, royal captivity and political disorder in Paris. James uses the upheaval to place romance and family loyalty against a background where traditional hierarchies suddenly appear vulnerable and retaliation becomes increasingly brutal.

The historical Jacquerie was short but exceptionally violent, and the repression that followed was equally severe. James’s interest lies in the fear produced when established social boundaries collapse: nobles cannot rely on customary obedience, while villagers face collective punishment for rebellion. The novel therefore broadens his usual courtly focus and makes class tension, rural violence and political breakdown central to the experience of the characters.