This work investigates the underlying social, economic, and political tensions that ignited a violent popular uprising in the French town of Romans during the carnival season of 1579-1580. Emmanuel Le Roy Ladurie, a prominent historian of the Annales School, utilizes extensive archival records, including municipal registers and judicial documents, to reconstruct the class conflicts between the town's artisans and the ruling elite. The book argues that the carnival served as a symbolic and literal battleground where long-standing grievances regarding taxation, food shortages, and political representation culminated in a bloody confrontation.

Historians frequently cite this work as a classic example of microhistory that effectively bridges the gap between local events and broader national trends. Scholars often note the author's meticulous attention to detail and his ability to transform dry administrative records into a vivid sociological account of early modern life.