'Dream of John Ball' Summary

The novel opens with the main character, a young man living in Victorian England, falling asleep and dreaming that he has been transported back in time to the year 1381. He finds himself in the midst of the Peasants' Revolt, a massive uprising of the English peasantry against the oppressive rule of the nobility. The main character meets John Ball, a radical priest who is one of the leaders of the revolt, and is inspired by his vision of a more just and equitable society. The novel follows the main character as he experiences the events of the revolt, including the Battle of Mile End and the burning of London. In the end, the revolt is defeated, but the main character is left with a renewed sense of hope and a belief in the possibility of a better future.