What do you think?
Rate this book
The King's Good Servant but God's First: The Life and Writings of Saint Thomas More
Through meticulous research and use of numerous primary sources, James Monti has produced a major work on the life and writings of the popular statesman, humanist, and saint, Thomas More. He presents a fresh portrait with new insights on the deep spiritual convictions of this Lord Chancellor of England, as well as the tumultuous times in which he lived.
497 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1997
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 11, 2017
This biography of Saint Thomas More tells his life story using his writings and many of the early biographies, along with the most recent scholarship (the book was publish in 1997, so "most recent" is relative). The book covers everything from birth to death, along with some comments about More's historical impact in an epilogue. The author focuses on More's own writings, examining them in detail.
The historical parts of this book are quite interesting and give a detailed look at Thomas More's life. His early life and his exploration of a possible vocation as a Carthusian monk were new and very interesting to me. His rise in English government, all the way to Lord Chancellor under Henry VIII, is presented in a scholarly and interesting way. More's final years, when he was one of the few high ranking Englishmen to refuse the Oath of Supremacy (acknowledging Henry as the supreme head of the Catholic Church in England), is covered in fascinating detail. His trial and death for treason against the king have an even greater depth than as seen in A Man for All Seasons.
A good third of the book's approximately 450 pages goes through More's writings against the English Protestant thinkers of his time. Reading through an analysis of tract after tract of arguments defending the Catholic faith in amazing detail becomes a bit daunting. While the discussion fills in details of More's life and his character, it is dry and less engaging than the more historical parts of the book. I wish I had skimmed more.
As one might guess from such a deep excursion into More's theological writings, the book is unabashedly Catholic in its admiration of More. He certainly is a model Christian--humble, pious, generous, humorous, and intelligent. His wit shines throughout his life and his final days were filled with prayers that his friends and family and even his persecutors might meet again in Heaven "where we shall be merry for ever and ever." [p. 457, quoted from Roper's The Lyfe of Sir Thomas Moore, Knighte). More's embodiment of both intelligence and happiness is highly admirable. He had such a disposition because of his deep devotion, his profound faith. His love of Christ, especially in the Eucharist, gave him a more profound understanding of the importance of things in life. He kept his silence about why he wouldn't take the Oath in hopes that he would evade martyrdom but trusted that, if it came to that end, he would be given the grace to die a good death. That he certainly did.
I'd recommend the book with a strong caveat about the large amounts of literary and theological analysis that can slow things down.
The historical parts of this book are quite interesting and give a detailed look at Thomas More's life. His early life and his exploration of a possible vocation as a Carthusian monk were new and very interesting to me. His rise in English government, all the way to Lord Chancellor under Henry VIII, is presented in a scholarly and interesting way. More's final years, when he was one of the few high ranking Englishmen to refuse the Oath of Supremacy (acknowledging Henry as the supreme head of the Catholic Church in England), is covered in fascinating detail. His trial and death for treason against the king have an even greater depth than as seen in A Man for All Seasons.
A good third of the book's approximately 450 pages goes through More's writings against the English Protestant thinkers of his time. Reading through an analysis of tract after tract of arguments defending the Catholic faith in amazing detail becomes a bit daunting. While the discussion fills in details of More's life and his character, it is dry and less engaging than the more historical parts of the book. I wish I had skimmed more.
As one might guess from such a deep excursion into More's theological writings, the book is unabashedly Catholic in its admiration of More. He certainly is a model Christian--humble, pious, generous, humorous, and intelligent. His wit shines throughout his life and his final days were filled with prayers that his friends and family and even his persecutors might meet again in Heaven "where we shall be merry for ever and ever." [p. 457, quoted from Roper's The Lyfe of Sir Thomas Moore, Knighte). More's embodiment of both intelligence and happiness is highly admirable. He had such a disposition because of his deep devotion, his profound faith. His love of Christ, especially in the Eucharist, gave him a more profound understanding of the importance of things in life. He kept his silence about why he wouldn't take the Oath in hopes that he would evade martyrdom but trusted that, if it came to that end, he would be given the grace to die a good death. That he certainly did.
I'd recommend the book with a strong caveat about the large amounts of literary and theological analysis that can slow things down.
December 7, 2018
Long I to go to God.
October 2, 2014
This is a thorough account of this strong man's life, his amazing spirit, affability and temperance. I haven't read other biographies of Saint Thomas More and may never will. This one, coupled with his own Last Letters edited by Alvaro De Silva, covered everything I needed to know outside of the impossible perplexity that his own family probably asked him and themselves to their mental exhaustion: why not flee to somewhere like Spain? The Last Letters give more insight to that quandary -- a firm loyalty to England as reflected in the title of this book, his own last words -- "I die the Kings good servant but God's first". Loyalty to an England in the state that it was in may be the entire answer but it doesn't satisfy me. In any case staying true to one's values in the face of imprisonment, loss of social status, and death itself is an inner strength that cannot be overstated. This book gives a vivid account of the source of that strength within Saint Thomas More.
October 31, 2019
Nobody can understand More or Utopia without knowing the faith that drove both. Monti provides that aspect of More so often underplayed by biographies and fictional portrayals. St. Thomas' Catholic faith was not a mere element of his politics, but rather the foundation of every aspect of his life. One hardly ever hears of More's largest literary genres: devotionals especially focused on our Lord's Passion and apologetics against the Protestant revolution dividing Europe and Christendom in twain.
St. Thomas More was one of those Saints who I believe prayed for me long before it would have occurred for me to pray to them (St. Augustine being the other best example). I wore his medal for years as an agnostic. This book reminded me of why I have always found him so fascinating. I highly recommend this work. A large selection of the Saint's books are going onto my to read list.
St. Thomas More was one of those Saints who I believe prayed for me long before it would have occurred for me to pray to them (St. Augustine being the other best example). I wore his medal for years as an agnostic. This book reminded me of why I have always found him so fascinating. I highly recommend this work. A large selection of the Saint's books are going onto my to read list.
November 8, 2010
i love this book. st. thomas was so dedicated to the faith and our Lord. *sigh* i am a bit jealous of the spirituality of the more household. their prayer life was so beautiful and rich. makes me want to REALLY get on the ball here at home.
June 19, 2008
I remember watching the movie "A Man For All Seasons" and really being inspired by the life and example of Sir Thomas More. I went out and bought this book to learn more about him.
May 3, 2022
Wow, what a good read! As gripping as A Man For All Seasons, but with a lot more detail and background. It is by a Catholic publisher, and this is very much a "More the Catholic" book than a "More the statesman" or "More the humanist". It discusses and summarizes a great deal of his writings on the Christian faith and his apologetical works against the Reformers.
Want to Read
January 7, 2010Included in the "Miscellaneous" section of Fr. John McCloskey's 100-book Catholic Lifetime Reading Plan.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews