" . . . 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 Wunderli (history, Univ. of Colorado) recounts the tragic story of Hans Behem, a peasant shepherd of the German village of Niklashausen, in 1476. Behem, following instructions received in a vision of the Virgin Mary, devoted himself to God and preached to the folk, his sermons becoming more radical as the crowds grew. It is also the larger story of the bitter divisions between peasants and the elite clergy, as reflected in the line "O God in Heaven, on You we call/ Help us seize our priests and kill them all." The oppressed peasants could only find "justice" in the fantasy world of Carnival, the period before Lent. At such times, society was turned on its ear: The Fool reigned, Mass was mocked, and all were reduced to a common level. But what if the attitudes of Carnival lasted beyond their appointed time? The answer to that question lies in the story of Hans Behem. Fascinating and well written, this is highly recommended for academic and larger public libraries. -Robert A. Curtis, Taylor Memorial P.L., Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. RICHARD WUNDERLI is Professor of History at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, and author of London Church Courts and Society on the Eve of the Reformation.