Widely regarded as one of the classics of post-war historical writing, this book shows how central the role of poverty has been throughout the history of Europe. A history of poverty in Europe covering over 1000 years.

The book will be welcomed by students and researchers in medieval history, European Studies, and by anyone interested in the social and cultural history of Europe. Bronislaw Geremek is one of the foremost social historians in Europe today.

This book discusses the 'marginal' people of late medieval Paris, the large and shifting group of men and women who existed on the margins of conventional organized society.