Author: James Hume-Cook

Sir Thomas More (1478–1535) was a renowned English statesman, humanist philosopher, and author, best remembered for his 1516 book “Utopia”. Born in London, More rose to prominence as a lawyer and later served under King Henry VIII. His “Utopia” is a seminal work in Western literature and philosophy, where More coined the term “utopia” to describe an ideal society on an imaginary island, discussing the virtues of such a society in contrast to the political reality of his day. The book is written in Latin and is structured as a socio-political satire, employing a dialogue format to explore themes of justice, law, and governance. More”s works are characterized by their wit, humanist ideals, and moral firmness, which would ultimately lead to his conflict with the king over the annulment of Henry”s marriage to Catherine of Aragon and the subsequent separation of the Church of England from papal authority. More”s refusal to acknowledge Henry as the Supreme Head of the Church of England led to his execution for treason in 1535, and he was canonized by the Catholic Church in 1935. “Utopia” remains influential, inspiring political philosophy and notions of communal living. More”s literary contributions reflect his intellectual integrity and deep moral convictions, establishing his legacy as a pivotal figure in the canon of English literature.