Janna Coomans’s book, “Thieves’ Land,” offers a unique perspective on the lives of ordinary people in the late Middle Ages by examining the confessions of thieves. Through meticulous research of archival materials, Coomans uncovers details about the daily lives, social structures, and economic realities of the lower classes. Her work challenges the traditional focus on kings and dukes, instead highlighting the experiences of beggars, tramps, and vagabonds.

Coomans’s research is based on hundreds of testimonies, interrogations, and judgments from the criminal registers of several cities. These records provide a “mini-window” into the world of medieval thieves, revealing not only what they stole but also the circumstances surrounding their crimes. This allows Coomans to explore broader social issues, such as personal hygiene, gender relations, and economic inequality.

One of the key findings of Coomans’s research is that the standard image of a static, rigidly structured medieval society is incomplete. She argues that a significant portion of the population, perhaps half of society, consisted of migrant workers who moved frequently and engaged in various activities to survive. These individuals did not belong to guilds and were often marginalized, but their confessions offer valuable insights into their lives and experiences.

Coomans also addresses the reliability of the confessions, acknowledging the potential for coercion and manipulation by law enforcement officials. However, she argues that the level of detail in the records, including witness hearings, suggests that authorities took their work seriously. She also notes that fines were the most common form of punishment, rather than corporal punishment, due to the cost of executions.

The book also explores the treatment of poor foreigners in medieval society. Coomans finds that they were often punished more severely than local thieves, possibly due to their lack of social networks and their perceived threat to social order. This mirrors contemporary issues of migration and xenophobia. She emphasizes the parallels between the treatment of marginalized groups in the Middle Ages and the present day, particularly the tendency to stereotype and scapegoat vulnerable populations.

Coomans’s work challenges the traditional focus on the elite and highlights the importance of studying the lives of ordinary people to gain a more complete understanding of history. She believes that by examining the experiences of those who lived outside the mainstream, we can gain new perspectives on enduring social problems.