Excellent view of what we can reasonably know about Thomas More, a man born in the 15th century. Fortunately he was a prolific writer and was a friend of writers. We know of his childhood, education, capers, perverse sense of humor, past-times, jobs, friends, wives, children, sons-in-laws, etc. I found it refreshing to see that he was a devout man, yet he "down to earth" to the very end. ( )

Anyone who sees More as admirable or worthy of respect should read this book as it shows More in his true light: a delusional bastard who really wasn't capable of true critical thought and who is directly responsible for the deaths of quite a few people in a very cruel manner. He may have been a man of his time, but there were many others who were far better people, even during his time. ( )

Born into the professional classes, Thomas More applied his formidable intellect and well-placed connections to become the most powerful man in England, second only to the king. As much a work of history as a biography, The Life of Thomas More gives an unmatched portrait of the everyday, religious, and intellectual life of the early sixteenth century. In Ackroyd's hands, this renowned "man for all seasons" emerges in the fullness of his complex humanity; we see the unexpected side of his character--such as his preference for bawdy humor--as well as his indisputable moral courage.

Aside from Ackroy claiming to a fidelity to the milieu of More by quoting him in the obscure spellings of the sixteenth century, there are vast praries of emotional space between the author and his subject. I am left a bit puzzled. Ackroyd goes to sufficient lengths to remove the aura of hagiography from More, but doesn't construct a viable counter-thesis either. There is simply the written record. Odd. ( )

Allicht interessant om lezen na de Utopiatentoonstelling in M, Museum Leuven 20.10.2016-17.01.2017.
Bezocht op 1.12.2016 met MieSermeus