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Thomas More: The Search for the Inner Man
Recent writings about Thomas More have questioned his integrity and motivation and have challenged the long-held view of him as a humane, wise, and heroic "man for all seasons." This new book responds to these revisionist studies by closely and persuasive
124 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1990
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December 15, 2017
There are two Thomas Mores: The Saint and the Hammer of Heresy
The one is the Saint, the Man for All Seasons and the friend of Erasmus. The other is the man who burnt heretics at the stake, who banned the Bible, wore a hairshirt and ruthlessly pursued Protestants. How do square this circle?
This is the task of Professor Martz. Drawing on plenty of primary sources and the two existent images of More, he attempts to understand More as a man of his time, vindicating him against the modern attack yet falling short of hagiography. More of Utopia shines through.
To give an example of what I mean:
"Thomas Cromwell engaged in vigorous personal persecution of those suspected of continuing to support the papacy, and during those five years 'something like sixty-five' people suffered the 'horrible execution' decreed for treason...By contrast, More was 'personally involved' in persecuting only three out of the six cases of heresy in all of England that led to burning...
My point was not to show that one party was worse than another...My point in simply that the political procedures of the age were cruel..." (p. 5-6)
The one is the Saint, the Man for All Seasons and the friend of Erasmus. The other is the man who burnt heretics at the stake, who banned the Bible, wore a hairshirt and ruthlessly pursued Protestants. How do square this circle?
This is the task of Professor Martz. Drawing on plenty of primary sources and the two existent images of More, he attempts to understand More as a man of his time, vindicating him against the modern attack yet falling short of hagiography. More of Utopia shines through.
To give an example of what I mean:
"Thomas Cromwell engaged in vigorous personal persecution of those suspected of continuing to support the papacy, and during those five years 'something like sixty-five' people suffered the 'horrible execution' decreed for treason...By contrast, More was 'personally involved' in persecuting only three out of the six cases of heresy in all of England that led to burning...
My point was not to show that one party was worse than another...My point in simply that the political procedures of the age were cruel..." (p. 5-6)
Displaying 1 of 1 review