A Dream of John Ball; and, A King's Lesson

"A Dream of John Ball" by William Morris is a novel set during the Great Revolt of 1381. In this historical fantasy, the rebel priest John Ball is the central character, and his famous question "When Adam delved and Eve span, who was then the gentleman?" is explored. Morris depicts the Middle Ages in a positive light, emphasizing the prosperity and happiness of peasants and the protection of workers from exploitation by guilds. Through a dream and time-travel encounter, Ball learns of the decline of feudalism and the rise of the Industrial Revolution, but he realizes that his dreams of an egalitarian society have yet to be fulfilled.