The author looks into the history of Western Europe between 1300 and 1450, drawing parallels with the 20th century and looks into Chaucer, Boccaccio, The Hundred Years' War, pilgrimages, plagues and revolts against a poll tax, amongst other things. Tuchman has been awarded the Pulitzer Prize for "August 1914" and "Sand Against Wind" and her other novels are "The Proud Tower", "The Zimmermann Telegram" and "Bible and Sword".