Trained as an urban historian at Ghent University, Jelle Haemers has written two books on urban revolts in the county of Flanders. Since 2010, he has been Professor of Medieval History at KU Leuven. In recent years, his research interests have widened to encompass the social history of the late medieval town, notably in the wider Low Countries (1100–1600). He has also published on the use of social theory in history, the late medieval nobility, and women's history. He was a founding member of the Young Academy of Belgium.

• Introduction 1: Rules and Repression 2: Men and Women 3: Individual Insults and Wandering Words 4: Shouting Commoners and Collective Contention 5: Songs and Stories 6: Letters and Libels 7: Petitions and Protest Conclusion: A Contentious History of Democracy

Trained as an urban historian at Ghent University, Jelle Haemers has written two books on urban revolts in the county of Flanders. Since 2010, he has been Professor of Medieval History at KU Leuven. In recent years, his research interests have widened to encompass the social history of the late medieval town, notably in the wider Low Countries (1100–1600). He has also published on the use of social theory in history, the late medieval nobility, and women's history. He was a founding member of the Young Academy of Belgium.

• Introduction 1: Rules and Repression 2: Men and Women 3: Individual Insults and Wandering Words 4: Shouting Commoners and Collective Contention 5: Songs and Stories 6: Letters and Libels 7: Petitions and Protest Conclusion: A Contentious History of Democracy