The Confession of Jack Straw

By Simone Zelitch

Book Overview

Ursula LeGuin said about this book: "In most novels about the Middle Ages, the deck is all face cards. Jack Straw is rare and admirable in its uncompromising, unpatronizing identification with a peasant--an intelligent, vulnerable man caught up in the dream of equality that flared into the Peasant Revolt. The novel lets the reader stand at that crossroads of politics and mysticism and see 1776, 1848, 1917, Tiananment Square--the same dream, the same betrayal. A very moving, honest book."

Kirkus Reviews: "A fast-paced, intriguing account of the failed Peasant Revolt in 14th Century England: First-novelist Zelitch provides a rendering that is evocative and plausible as well as convincing in its historical sweep...Zelitch offers a satisfying variety of incident, with enough texture and historical detail--costume, festivity, songs--to evoke the medieval milieu. The Middle Ages are rendered not on silver plattersor thrones but on the dusty roads and straw beds of peasants, who are given center stage here, not limited to comic relief."

The Confession of Jack Straw won the Hopwood Award for Major Fiction.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0930773187
• ISBN13: 9780930773182
• Release Date: January 2010
• Publisher: Black Heron Press
• Length: 260 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.9" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

This book will make you want to know more ...

about the times, characters and incidents written of. This is a story of a revolution eating its children, yet again. The author does everyting she attempts flawlessly, and I never read anything by her without diving into the Web to find more. In this case I was led to William Morris, and his "Dream of John Ball", published in 1886, and available on the Web. If you are thinking of reading this book then do so! I cannot believe you could be sorry, excellent stuff.

I Was Swept Away By "Jack Straw"

I was thrilled by the political conviction, insanity, morality, and insecurity that turned ordinary peasants into revolutionary figures and the stuff of legend. Ms. Zelitch also finds the irony and humor in this grim chapter of history. She tells the story with an amazing use of language. My favorite: "We walked through a night full and loving as a cat." The tale starts out small, then sweeps along like a wave. I was up 'til all hours to read the last third of the book in a single sitting.