First published 1993
Richard Marius presents Thomas More not as the sanctified martyr of legend but as a flesh and blood human being. Born in 1478 into medieval London, More lived through the Renaissance transformation of England. Marius traces his subject from childhood through his service in Bishop Morton's household, his struggle between priesthood and secular life, and his choice of marriage and law. The biography examines More's friendship with Erasmus, his authorship of Utopia and his controversial History of Richard III, and his complex relationships with two wives and his children. As Lord Chancellor, More championed Catholic authority while serving Henry VIII until the king's final tyranny forced an impossible choice. Marius shows a man more passionate and driven than the serene hero of popular imagination, yet possessed of wit, integrity and charm that won him universal affection. Drawing on recent scholarship and More's own extensive writings, this biography restores a complete human being.
Genres: biography, literary-fiction, historical-fiction, non-fiction
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: historical-figure
Setting: London, England
Period: 1478, Renaissance
592 pages · Paperback · Weidenfeld & Nicolson