Ralph Robinson Boeken

First published in Latin in 1516, Utopia was the work of Sir Thomas More (1477–1535), the brilliant humanist, scholar, and churchman executed by Henry VIII for his refusal to accept the king as the supreme head of the Church of England. In this work, which gave its name to the whole genre of books and movements hypothesizing an ideal society, More envisioned a patriarchal island kingdom that practiced religious tolerance, in which everybody worked, no one has more than his fellows, all goods were community-owned, and violence, bloodshed, and vice nonexistent. Based to some extent on the writings of Plato and other earlier authors, Utopia nevertheless contained much that was original with More. In the nearly 500 years since the book's publication, there have been many attempts at establishing "Utopias" both in theory and in practice. All of them, however, seem to embody ideas already present in More's classic treatise: optimistic faith in human nature, emphasis on the environment and proper education, nostalgia for a lost innocence, and other positive elements. In this new, inexpensive edition, readers can study for themselves the essentials of More's utopian vision and how, although the ideal society he envisioned is still unrealized, at least some of his proposals have come to pass in today's world.

This edition is part of the Barnes & Noble Classics series, offering quality, affordable versions for students and general readers. It features new introductions by contemporary writers and scholars, author biographies, chronologies of historical events, footnotes, endnotes, and discussions of various adaptations inspired by the work. Additional elements include comments from notable authors, study questions, bibliographies, and indices or glossaries when relevant. Each edition is beautifully designed and printed to high standards, with some including historical illustrations. One of the most significant works in Western philosophy and literature, it was published in 1516 during a time of religious conflict in Europe. The narrative is presented by Raphael Hythloday, a sailor who discovers the island kingdom of Utopia, characterized by its uniformity in language, customs, and education across its fifty-four cities. The Utopians have abolished wealth, nobility, and currency, ensuring equal distribution of labor and goods, while eliminating temptations that might lead individuals away from society. More's work raises questions about whether it serves as a critique of European society or a philosophical exploration of ideal living. Ultimately, it grapples with the tension between the pursuit of perfection and the recognition of human fallibility. Wayne A. Rebhorn, a professor at the University of Texas at Austin, has extensively