William Langland was a 14th-century English poet best known for his allegorical poem, Piers Plowman. Born around 1330, he lived during a time of social and political change in England. His work reflects the struggles of the common people and critiques the social injustices of his time. Piers Plowman is written in a unique dream vision format, where the narrator experiences a series of allegorical dreams. The poem explores themes of Christianity, morality, and the quest for truth, making it a significant contribution to medieval literature and a precursor to later works like Chaucer's writings.