Synopses & Reviews
Based on Thomas More's penetrating analysis of the folly and tragedy of the politics of his time and all times, (1516) is a seedbed of alternative political institutions and a perennially challenging exploration of the possibilities and limitations of political action. This Norton Critical Edition is built on the translation that Robert M. Adams created for it in 1975. For the Third Edition, George M. Logan has carefully revised the translation, improving its accuracy while preserving the grace and verve that have made it the most highly regarded modern rendering of More's Renaissance Latin work. "Backgrounds" includes a wide-ranging selection of the major secular and religious texts--from Plato to Amerigo Vespucci--that informed More's thinking, as well as a selection of the responses to his book by members of his own humanist circle and an account by G. R. Elton of the condition of England at the time More wrote. "Criticism" now offers a more comprehensive survey of modern scholarship, adding excerpts from seminal books by Frederic Seebohm, Karl Kautsky, and Russell Ames, as well as selections from stimulating and influential recent readings by Dominic Baker-Smith and Eric Nelson. In the final section, on "'s Modern Progeny," the opening chapter of Aldous Huxley's is now complemented by excerpts from another great work in the complex tradition of utopian and dystopian fiction, Ursula K. Le Guin's . Throughout the Third Edition, the editorial apparatus has been thoroughly revised and updated. An updated Selected Bibliography is also included.
Synopsis
This Norton Critical Edition is built on the translation that Robert M. Adams created for it in 1975. For the Third Edition, George M. Logan has carefully revised the translation, improving its accuracy while preserving the grace and verve that have made it the most highly regarded modern rendering of More s Renaissance Latin work Backgrounds includes a wide-ranging selection of the major secular and religious texts from Plato to Amerigo Vespucci that informed More s thinking, as well as a selection of the responses to his book by members of his own humanist circle and an account by G. R. Elton of the condition of England at the time More wrote Criticism now offers a more comprehensive survey of modern scholarship, adding excerpts from seminal books by Frederic Seebohm, Karl Kautsky, and Russell Ames, as well as selections from stimulating and influential recent readings by Dominic Baker-Smith and Eric Nelson. In the final section, on Utopia s Modern Progeny, the opening chapter of Aldous Huxley s Brave New World is now complemented by excerpts from another great work in the complex tradition of utopian and dystopian fiction, Ursula K. Le Guin s The Left Hand of Darkness. Throughout the Third Edition, the editorial apparatus has been thoroughly revised and updated. An updated Selected Bibliography is also included. "
Synopsis
Inspiring, provocative, prophetic, and enigmatic, Utopia is the literary masterpiece of a visionary statesman and one of the most influential books of the modern world.
Synopsis
"Backgrounds" is designed to assist student readers in an appreciation of Utopiaby shedding light on the different points of view contemporary with More"s work. Included are new selections from Saint Benedict and Tasso, as well as a medieval satire on the land of Cockayne. "The Humanist Circle", a carefully chosen selection of letters, includes another important contribution by Erasmus.
"Criticism" includes five new thought-provoking essays by Alistair Fox, Edward L. Surtz, G. R. Elton, Northrop Frye, and Robert M. Adams. Also new are selections from two modern anti-utopias or quasi-utopias'"Aldous Huxley"s Brave New World and B. F. Skinner"s Walden Two'"plus a selection from Edward Bellamy"s once futuristic but now almost contemporary Looking Backward, which may be compared and contrasted with More"s masterpiece.
An updated Selected Bibliography is also included.
Synopsis
Robert M. Adams"s celebrated translation of Utopiahas been meticulously revised for the Second Edition of this Norton Critical Edition as have the accompanying annotations.
About the Author
George M. Logan