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    Utopia
    Utopia
    Utopia
    Audiobook4 hours

    Utopia

    Written by Thomas More

    Narrated by Mark Meadows

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    About this audiobook

    Thomas More's Utopia stands out as one of the most striking political works ever written. Composed specifically as a response to Henry VIII's break with Rome, the book meditates on the perfect society, while indirectly critiquing the political and social ills of Tudor England. Containing thoughts on religious pluralism, a welfare state and women's rights, More's book was well ahead of its time, already hinting at later theories on communism and capitalism centuries before Marx, Engles and Smith.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherNaxos Audiobooks
    Release dateJan 1, 2016
    ISBN9781843799245
    Author

    Thomas More

    Thomas More (1478-1535) was an English lawyer, judge, philosopher, statesman, and humanist. Born in London, he was the second of six children born to Sir John More and his wife Agnes. From 1490 to 1492, he served as household page for Archbishop of Canterbury John Morton, who introduced him to Renaissance humanism and nominated him for a spot at the University of Oxford. After two years of learning Latin and Greek, he left to study law and was called to the Bar in 1502. Two years later, he was elected to Parliament, launching his political career in earnest. In 1516, while serving as Privy Counsellor, More published Utopia, a work of political philosophy and social satire that describes the customs of a fictional island nation. After a series of prominent posts in the court of King Henry VIII, More succeeded Thomas Wolsey as Lord Chancellor in 1529, making him one of the most powerful men in England. His three-year reign was mired in controversy, as he worked to impede the influence of the Protestant Reformation through the persecution of heretics and the suppression of Lutheran books, especially the Tyndale Bible. In 1530, he refused to sign a letter to Pope Clement VII that sought to annul Henry’s marriage to Catherine of Aragon, damaging his relationship with the King and distancing himself from clergymen loyal to the crown. After resigning in 1532, he further enraged the King by refusing to attend the coronation of Anne Boleyn, leading to a series of charges orchestrated by Thomas Cromwell. His refusal to take the Oath of Supremacy, which recognized the King as the figurehead of a new Church of England, would culminate in his being found guilty of high treason in 1535. Five days after his trial by jury, More was beheaded at Tower Hill. Recognized as a martyr by the Catholic Church, he was canonized as a saint in 1935 by Pope Pius XI.

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    Reviews for Utopia

    4/5

    31 ratings7 reviews

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    • 4/5
      wonderful insight how utopian country would look ? very enjoyable

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Well read, very interesting, especially given the time it was written. More probably should have taken his own advice about advising monarchs.
    • 4/5
      Interesting ideas, some wrong some right. A lot would be considered immoral, but thinking about the time it was written I think it was quite an upgrade to the ruling methods they actually had.
    • 5/5
      Very interesting novel which leaves food for thought.
      Excellent narration as well.
      I highly recommend this book and narration of it.
    • 3/5
      Funny little book. Interesting to think about what it says knowing that it was written around and published in 1516. I guess man and our "utopias" all look a like, even through the centuries.
    • 1/5
      wow, this guy was really retarded, im surprised this book is still in print.
    • 4/5
      Interesting to reflect that many things haven't changed. Particularly the self-styled elite and their ownership of the system. Dreadfully sexist, also An aspect of the times, but interesting insights none the less. We're all still looking for Utopia