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The Life of Thomas More
 
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The Life of Thomas More [Paperback]

Peter Ackroyd
4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
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Product details

  • Paperback: 448 pages
  • Publisher: Vintage; New edition edition (4 Mar 1999)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0749386401
  • ISBN-13: 978-0749386405
  • Product Dimensions: 12.9 x 3 x 19.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 101,764 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Peter Ackroyd
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Product Description

Amazon.co.uk Review

Peter Ackroyd is the quintessential London writer. His wonderful biography of Dickens was lit not only by his love and understanding of the writer, but also of the city which Dickens made his own. Recent novels such as The House of Doctor Dee and Dan Leno and the Limehouse Golem may have taken liberties with historical fact, but their London is a fascinating, pulsating place, more their true protagonist than their eponymous heroes.

Thomas More is a prime candidate for the London treatment. Born in the city, with a life of official city duties at a time when London was highly distinct from Westminster and the court, he imbued his writings (especially Richard III and his print debate with Tyndale) with a real sense of London's uniqueness. Ackroyd's treatment is thus both apposite and, of course, highly readable. He possesses a real gift for making dry history come alive with telling detail and vivid swathes of local colour. But while the new angle might imply a new understanding of the man, ultimately, the picture is overly familiar. Ackroyd's More comes out looking very much like Robert Bolt's Man for All Seasons More--a hinge between dark medievalism and modern secular conscience. Only this time he has an inner London postcode. --Alan Stewart --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description

Thomas More is one of the great figures in English history. Pre-eminent as a courtier and as a humanist, a friend to Henry VIII and the author of Utopia, More's life and career epitomise the great transformation of England in the space of 35 years. Ackroyd investigates the paradox of this 'man for all seasons': the man of the world who travelled across Europe to negotiate on behalf of his king, and the unworldly man who's careful silence on the matter of Henry's marriage to Anne Boleyn would lead to his disgrace and execution. A magnificent achievement, THE LIFE OF THOMAS MORE gives us a rich portrait of the man and the social and cultural world in which he lived.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Simply Amazing 18 Nov 2002
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
How Ackroyd has managed to do this I don't know. He has written a wonderful biography on a man who lived 500 years ago as if it were happening today. His descriptions of More's early life really allow you to...well...smell the life in Tudor England. Ackroyd puts across a variety of More's characteristics which are not always evident in a typical history book. More is described as someone devout, but inherently down to earth; he interacts with the people of his time and he seems to play second fiddle almost to his father who commanded his respect. A fascinating insight into the social structure of Tudor London and at times very moving. Well worth buying a copy.
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20 of 22 people found the following review helpful
By James Gallen TOP 1000 REVIEWER
Format:Hardcover
“The Life Of Thomas More” introduces the reader, not only to his life story, but also to the world of the Upper Class Englishman of his day. A life long Londoner, More earned his way into a rarefied world of legends. Henry VIII was his patron turned persecutor, Erasmus was his friend and St. John Fisher was his co-martyr.

In his early life, More lived a life of sanctity, but displayed traits which would not suggest a saintly temperament. Working his way into high office in what was then Catholic England, More was confronted by the early infiltration of the Protestant movement. A strong supporter of the Church of Rome, More aggressively worked to suppress the rising heresy.

More’s religious fervor, which initially put him in good stead, became a handicap when Henry VIII chose to divorce and remarry. His religious consistency then led his patrons to turn on him. His efforts to avoid taking a stand on the issues of the King’s divorce and remarriage and papal supremacy ultimately failed to save his life. Recognizing his fate, More made his last testimonies at his trial and in prison to supplement his prior writings such as “Utopia”.

Although this book does well at relating More’s outstanding life and public career it fails to give the reader a feel for the man. Upon completion of the book, I felt that I knew about Thomas More, but did not feel that I knew him. I am glad that I read it, but I had hoped for more.

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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Thomas More review 23 Nov 2009
Format:Paperback
Considering Thomas More died 500 years ago, it's very difficult to find a biography of him that isn't highly biased one way or another - he was either a Machiavellian psychopath or he could walk on water.

Of course, he was neither, and this very detailed and thoroughly researched biography is the one that I would recommend if you want a biography that isn't hysterically trying to convince you of one or the other viewpoint.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
good read
I knew very little about Thomas More so this book was a really good introduction. The style of writing was easy to read and follow and although I found the book packed with... Read more
Published 7 months ago by chris
Brilliant book about a troubling and troubled man
This is a particularly interesting read, from the perspective that we get to know much more about Thomas More than we would from reading, say a history of Tudor times, or a history... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Keen Reader
Ackroyd's Thomas More
Thomas More was, without doubt, a many-faceted character and, contingent on one's beliefs and standpoint a hero/villain, statesman/fanatic, man of the people/typically upper-class... Read more
Published 9 months ago by RR Waller
Latin dictionary please
I must say that I am only on Chapter 5. So far, however, I have needed a Latin dictionary in a few places. Read more
Published 12 months ago by R. Chrichlow
Yet another biography ...
... written about a Catholic by a non-Catholic. Ackroyd is excellent at presenting the colour of London life, More's legal background etc. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Mrs. RM KLEPPMANN
Rich and erudite
This is a rich and erudite biography, replete with literary and theological references. As would be expected from this author, the theme of More as a Londoner is brought out quite... Read more
Published on 15 Sep 2008 by John Hopper
A splendid and moving recreation of a world we have lost.
Saints can be obstructive, difficult, dogmatic and even inherently unlikeable. In various degrees Thomas More is all of these and more. Read more
Published on 31 Aug 2001 by John Wilson
More was not the saint he appears in "A Man For All Seasons"
I much enjoyed Peter Ackroyd's biography which I read as background in preparation to directing a production of "A Man For All Seasons". Read more
Published on 8 Sep 1999
A scholarly, brilliantly written and very moving biography
Why is Thomas More such a heroic figure, even today? Is it entirely due to 'A Man for all Seasons'? Read more
Published on 11 Aug 1999
Detailed and well-researched book
I found the first few chapters (dealing with his childhood)quite heavy going. However, once his career at court takes off, the book seems to take off as well! Read more
Published on 27 July 1999
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