Originally published by 1984Justice and Mercy in Piers Plowmanprovides a clear and informative introduction to the complexities of Langland's Piers Plowman. It identifies Langland's major concerns and shows in detail,passusbypassus, how these are developed by him in the first part of the poem - theVisio. It offers a close reading of the text and draws parallels where relevant with other medieval writings. There is a final brief chapter on theVitawhich outlines the chief ways in which the themes of justice, mercy and law that have been followed throughVisiocontinue to be of major importance in the rest of the poem. By concentrating on the philosophical core of the work, the climate of thought in which Langland wrote and the thematic integrity of the poem as a whole, the author makes a difficult, but unique and fascinating poem more accessible.