This volume investigates the political, economic, and social instability of fifteenth-century England, specifically focusing on the collapse of the Lancastrian regime and the subsequent power struggles of the Wars of the Roses. Ernest F. Jacob, a distinguished historian, utilizes extensive archival research and administrative records to argue that the period's turbulence stemmed from systemic financial failures and the competitive nature of noble patronage. By analyzing the intersection of royal authority and aristocratic influence, the author provides a comprehensive framework for understanding the transition from medieval governance to the early modern state.

Historians and scholars frequently cite this work as a foundational text for understanding the complexities of late medieval English governance. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which reflects the rigorous archival approach characteristic of the Oxford History of England series.