Comic History of England… The Comic History of the Peasants’ Revolt 17 Apr 2021 For Pen and Sword Books I am producing a new annotated edition of The Comic History of England (originally published in 1846). I thought I’d give readers a taste of…
Chartism… The Glorious Trio: Robin Hood, Wat Tyler, and Hereward the Wake 8 Apr 2021 I recently had the honour to have a chapter appear in a book edited by Mike Sanders (Twitter @bronterre1) and David Matthews titled Subaltern Medievalisms: Medievalism 'from Below' in Nineteenth-Century…
1817… How Robert Southey avoided getting “Cancelled” 27 Aug 202027 Aug 2020 By Stephen Basdeo The following is an adaptation of some of the material in my book The Life and Legend of a Rebel Leader: Wat Tyler (2018). You’re an up-and-coming…
1381… “The Life and Death of Jacke Straw” (1593) 17 May 202017 May 2020 By Stephen Basdeo The following is an excerpt from my book: The Life and Legend of a Rebel Leader: Wat Tyler (2018). It is available to buy from the publisher…
14th Century… Poetry: The Rebellion of Wat Tyler and Jack Straw (c.1612) 17 May 2020 Unlike that other medieval hero and man of the people, Robin Hood, Wat Tyler does not enjoy an extensive ballad "afterlife." This song, first published in The Garland of Delight…
19th Century… “Saxon Grit” 23 Apr 2020 St George’s Day seems as fitting time as ever to publish a “new” Robin Hood poem I found titled “Saxon Grit” in the archives of a long-defunct Christian socialist magazine…
