tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7495382709151625398.post8797521016107138557..comments2024-02-09T16:13:32.416-08:00Comments on Classical Carousel: Utopia by Thomas MoreCleohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152128642971612433noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7495382709151625398.post-81331235762495208792015-02-19T20:35:24.792-08:002015-02-19T20:35:24.792-08:00Not being an historian myself, I kind of think tha...Not being an historian myself, I kind of think that Henry VIII began to lose his mind a little (or alot). By the time he wanted the divorce from Catherine of Aragon, I don't think he was playing with a full deck of cards, so to speak, and it got worse from there. Earlier on in his life, he seemed more reasonable though. So perhaps what More could have gotten away with at the time he wrote Utopia, wouldn't have been passed over or accepted later one. But that is just Cleo-speculation. And normally Cleo doesn't like to speculate. But I will in this case. ;-)Cleohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13152128642971612433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7495382709151625398.post-49733083691180751842015-02-19T19:41:55.409-08:002015-02-19T19:41:55.409-08:00See, that's what I always thought. Pretty amaz...See, that's what I always thought. Pretty amazing if you think about it since he was able to get away with such a controversy work at the time. I believe he was in well respected by Henry VIII at this point and it was a little later in which he gained ill favor with the king, which eventually lead to his death. I'm no historian so don't quote me on that. :PJason Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08334917645691982404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7495382709151625398.post-57209464481725115852015-02-19T12:16:47.276-08:002015-02-19T12:16:47.276-08:00After I got going in Middle-English, it was kind o...After I got going in Middle-English, it was kind of fun! :-)<br /><br />Yes, I would read it as satire too, but it's interesting that some of the satire is not very cloaked. I'm not sure what type of relationship More had with Henry VIII at this point, but perhaps he felt he could be a little freer with his views. And More struck me as a very principled and honourable man, so I could see him leaning more toward truth than care for his own head. :-ZCleohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13152128642971612433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7495382709151625398.post-82620344705255494722015-02-18T08:08:25.108-08:002015-02-18T08:08:25.108-08:00My hat goes off to you Cleo, I am astounded that y...My hat goes off to you Cleo, I am astounded that you attempted to read this in middle-english! This is a great literary work that still holds up today and of course, there is no disputing its influence on prominent thinkers/writers like Marx and one could argue that many science-fiction writers are indebted to Sir Thomas. <br /><br />Personally, it is difficult for me not to read this novel as satire. Living in Henry VIII's court was dangerous and if More had meant for his work to be taken seriously, he would have had his head chopped off for sure. He was loyal to the monarchy but he certainly had disagreements with the way things were being run. It's interesting to think that perhaps the satire is meant to be mask his true feelings and social ideologies. An insightful review as always. Here's my review if interested: http://literaturefrenzy.blogspot.ca/2013/06/neglected-review-4-utopia-by-thomas.htmlJason Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08334917645691982404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7495382709151625398.post-79247180320925095732014-12-28T09:20:41.134-08:002014-12-28T09:20:41.134-08:00Thanks, Keely! I'm very keen to read a biogra...Thanks, Keely! I'm very keen to read a biography about him now. I was so impressed at how loved he was by everyone and how he felt that it was important to have time to spend with his family. He also appeared to have a developed sense of humour and his best friend was Erasmus. He must have been a fascinating character.Cleohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13152128642971612433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7495382709151625398.post-18197529632424542822014-12-27T22:26:32.855-08:002014-12-27T22:26:32.855-08:00This is a great review. Tudor England is one of th...This is a great review. Tudor England is one of the periods of history I know the most about and I've always had a keen interest in Thomas More. He had incredibly strong convictions and solid morals and I love that. It's something to be admired. Keelyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05129116588819304797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7495382709151625398.post-79853918875885517572014-12-26T15:38:38.101-08:002014-12-26T15:38:38.101-08:00It's short, so it won't be torturous if yo...It's short, so it won't be torturous if you don't like it. And it's an easy read; it's really had to tell if there is anything deeper in it, which is why there is so much speculation as to its meaning.<br /><br />I had two editions. One was an Oxford Press student book edited by J. Churton Collins: it was a fantastic resource for information but the downside is that the Utopia text is in Middle English. However it gave such great background and made me appreciate the work 100% more! For the "real" English translation, I read a new one by Clarence H. Miller. It was very good, but I know that the humour and lightness of the Latin that More played with, is entirely missing. Sigh! Cleohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13152128642971612433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7495382709151625398.post-60485316918975841352014-12-26T15:05:41.077-08:002014-12-26T15:05:41.077-08:00Oh, whew! An encouraging review. I have to read ...Oh, whew! An encouraging review. I have to read this for WEM histories, and it is one of those books that I am not sure how to anticipate it. A little intimidated, but a little eager. I hope I have a good translation (Wayne Rebhorn?) Was yours the Penguin Classic?Ruth @ with freedom and bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15531827758868215023noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7495382709151625398.post-15731174155813345202014-12-26T13:49:51.924-08:002014-12-26T13:49:51.924-08:00It's fascinating and fun. It can also be puzz...It's fascinating and fun. It can also be puzzling. Some of his suggestions are polar opposite of his beliefs, which makes me think that it's a speculative work, more than anything concrete. A great read though!Cleohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13152128642971612433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7495382709151625398.post-82899719242504592912014-12-26T13:23:41.337-08:002014-12-26T13:23:41.337-08:00This looks fascinating - I'll have to try and ...This looks fascinating - I'll have to try and get a copy. :)ohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01245931629228090133noreply@blogger.com