Peasant Fires
The Drummer of Niklashausen
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3.5 • 6 Ratings
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- $11.99
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
" . . . lively and intellectually stimulating . . . " —Speculum
"Wunderli . . . has lucidly reconstructed a controversial conflict in 15th-century south-central Germany. . . . this engaging narrative takes off from Hans Behem—the peasant who claimed to see the Virgin and gained followers until crushed by the established church—to explore larger forces at work in Germany on the eve of the Reformation. . . Wunderli also attempts to sort out the violent conflict that ensued and Hans's subsequent trial. His scrupulousness and sensitivity make for a small but valuable book." —Publishers Weekly
"Fascinating and well written, this is highly recommended for academic and larger public libraries." —Library Journal
"Richard Wunderli . . . deftly tells the story in Peasant Fires, finding in it a foreshadowing of peasant uprisings in the 16th century." —New York Times Book Review
" . . . a stimulating read . . . an engaging synthesis." —Central European History
In 1476, an illiterate German street musician had a vision of the Virgin Mary and began to preach a radical social message that attracted thousands of followers—and antagonized the church. The drummer was burned at the stake. This swiftly moving narrative of his rise and fall paints a vivid portrait of 15th-century German society as it raises important questions about the craft of history.
"A gem of a book. . . . It has a plot, good guys and bad buys, it opens up a 'strange' world, and it is exceptionally well written." —Thomas W. Robisheaux
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Wunderli ( London Church Courts and Society on the Eve of Reformation ) has lucidly reconstructed a controversial conflict in 15th-century south-central Germany. Aimed at the general reader, this engaging narrative takes off from Hans Behem--the peasant who claimed to see the Virgin and gained followers until crushed by the established church--to explore larger forces at work in Germany on the eve of the Reformation. For peasants, the world of spirits and saints was more powerful than nature; only there could they imagine a different social order. The hardships of nature in 1476 provided impetus for the peasants, temporarily emboldened by pre-Lenten Carnival, to be ripe for a visionary shepherd like Hans. But Hans's call for the leveling of society prompted the wrath of Bishop Rudolph, who, according to Wunderli, was a reformer in his own right. Building on sketchy records and elements from other contemporary sermons, the author invents a sermon for Hans, showing how he might have appealed to peasant fantasies of egalitarianism. Wunderli also attempts to sort out the violent conflict that ensued and Hans's subsequent trial. His scrupulousness and sensitivity make for a small but valuable book.
Customer Reviews
It's informative
This book is very informative and would be worthwhile to read if you would like to learn more about the time period, however sometimes it gets long winded and the train of thought can go all over the place