Ben o' Bill's, the Luddite: A Yorkshire Tale

"Ben o' Bill's, the Luddite: A Yorkshire Tale" by D. F. E. Sykes is a historical fiction that transports readers to 19th-century Yorkshire, where the dawn of the industrial revolution threatens the traditional way of life for weavers and laborers. Narrated from the perspective of what is likely the main character, the story peels back the inaccurate understanding of the Luddite movement, revealing a community grappling with the arrival of machinery that endangers their jobs and way of life. Through the protagonist's memories, which include his father's experiences in the wool trade and the complex social connections within his community, the book hints at the growing tensions between the working class and the mill owners, setting the stage for the coming turmoil of the Luddite uprising.